JuJu Watkins of Southern California and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame have made their mark in college basketball history, being named to The Associated Press All-America team on March 19, 2025. Their achievement is particularly noteworthy as they become only the third and fourth players to earn first-team All-America honors in their freshman and sophomore years, joining the ranks of Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris and UConn’s Maya Moore.
Watkins was a unanimous choice from the 31-member national media panel tasked with selecting the top players in collegiate basketball. She showcased an exceptional performance throughout the season, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists to lead the Trojans to their first conference title since 1994. "She set her own bar so high last year and then she managed to surpass it," said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who praised Watkins for her ability to elevate her game and inspire those around her.
Hidalgo was equally impressive, earning both ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She averaged 24.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and with 3.7 steals per game, ranking fourth in the nation for steals just a year after leading in that category. "What a well-deserved honor for Hannah. To be one of just four players to ever make the AP All-America first team in both of their first seasons is a major accomplishment," Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey noted. "I’m so proud of her and I can’t wait to see what she does in March!"
Joining Watkins and Hidalgo on the esteemed first team are UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who earned All-America honors for the third time, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Texas’ Madison Booker, who were also consensus choices. Bueckers posted averages of 19.0 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, guiding her team to an undefeated Big East season, anticipated to make her the first overall pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. "She makes it look like it is never hard and never a struggle to get her points and get the shots off she wants," praised her coach Geno Auriemma.
Betts had an impressive season as well, averaging 19.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and an outstanding field goal percentage of 63.4%. She also secured a spot in the top five nationally for blocked shots, averaging 2.93 per game. And reflecting on her performance, UCLA coach Cori Close shared, "Lauren Betts has been dominant from start to finish on both ends of the floor. This is first an individual accomplishment for Lauren, but it is also a team accomplishment. So proud of it all!”
Madison Booker, last year’s second-team All-American, averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists for Texas, who tied for the SEC regular season title with South Carolina. "To be preseason (All-American) and then to go live it, getting everybody’s best shot... That’s the most difficult thing to do. She did it," Texas coach Vic Schaefer remarked, highlighting the pressure she faced and overcame.
The second team of the All-America roster is led by LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, who dominated the nation’s rebounding statistics, averaging 13.6 rebounds per game. Rounding out the second team are UConn’s Sarah Strong, Florida State’s Ta’niya Latson, Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, and Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore, each contributing effectively for their respective teams throughout the regular season.
On the third team, players included Kiki Iriafen from USC, TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson, and Iowa State’s Audi Crooks. These athletes displayed great talent and skill, performing well under the high-pressure circumstances of their collegiate competition.
Honorable mentions included notable players such as Raegan Beers from Oklahoma, Sedona Prince of TCU, and Joyce Edwards from South Carolina, who stood out despite not making the three All-America teams.
The results reflect a remarkable season in women's college basketball, showcasing talent and competitiveness across the board. As March Madness approaches, all eyes will be on these teams and players, especially Watkins and Hidalgo, who are set to continue their rise in the sport.
