JuJu Watkins, the star guard for the USC Trojans, is making a big impact both on and off the court. While she’s already a force in women’s basketball, she’s also earning respect as a leader off the floor through her work with the Nike Athlete Think Tank.

She recently shared on Instagram how excited she is to join the Think Tank’s fourth cohort. The program brings together top athletes to help shape the future of sports, and Watkins made it clear she’s all in on helping the next generation of girls in sports. With her rising hoops career and passion for change, she’s becoming a powerful voice for equality and inclusion in athletics.

JuJu Watkins Joins Nike Athlete Think Tank: A Platform for Change

Nike’s Athlete Think Tank brings top athletes together to help design products, share ideas, and drive change. Now in its fifth year, the group has helped create things like leakproof period gear and has funneled over $4 million into local communities. It’s all about giving athletes a real say in what comes next.

Watkins joined the fourth cohort of this influential group, alongside stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Sue Bird. Her inclusion reflects her growing stature in sports and her potential to influence beyond basketball.

On Instagram, she shared her enthusiasm, writing, “I’m so proud to have joined the fourth cohort of @nike Athlete Think Tank! Having the chance to connect with other athletes and coaches and talk about the things that matter to us and that matter to the next generation of girls has been such a powerful experience. I can’t wait to see what we do together next!”

The post highlights her excitement and strong commitment to collaborating with peers to tackle issues dear to her heart.

At just 19, she will bring a fresh perspective to the Think Tank. Her participation as a college athlete signals Nike’s commitment to amplifying younger voices, blending their insights with those of seasoned professionals. This mix of perspectives fuels the initiative’s ability to address current trends and future challenges in sports culture.

While other notable names have dealt with business as professional athletes, Watkins has a fresh perspective, having emerged during the NIL era of college athletics, with an estimated valuation of $793,000 heading into her junior season.

Empowering Girls in Sports: Watkins’ Vision Takes Shape

Watkins says her biggest goal is helping girls feel seen and heard in sports. She wants them to know they belong on the court and in every part of the game. That message came through loud and clear in her post.

She also shared a deeper message in her post, a quote from her that stood out on one of the slides of Watkins’ post: “I’m still early in my journey, but I already know the impact we can have as athletes, not just in sport, but in the communities that have poured into us and shaped who we are.”

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Kansas State’s $1.6 million NIL-valued quarterback, Avery Johnson, recently flexed his net worth with a sleek, new Mercedes that was featured on Long McArthur Ford’s Instagram.

As Kansas State prepares for a bounce-back 2025 season, Johnson’s growth as a signal-caller and a marketable athlete hints at a new chapter for the program.

$1.6 Million Kansas State QB Avery Johnson Shows Off His New Ride

Off the field, Kansas State QB Avery Johnson’s $1.6 million NIL valuation reflects his status as a face of college football. Previously, he bought a custom lavender Corvette in 2024, but with his rising net worth, the young QB decided to upgrade and gifted himself with a brand new Mercedes AMG.

Long McArthur Ford’s Instagram post featured the new car and his owner with a caption saying, “From Lavender to Legendary. Avery Johnson is known for his speed, and now his ride matches it! Mercedes AMG – the ultimate upgrade. More power. More luxury. More game.”

Johnson doesn’t only buy cars with his wealth. Using his financial capabilities, Johnson has launched a youth training camp for kids aged 6-17, set for launch on June 25, making his contribution to the Kansas State and Manhattan, Kansas, community.

Avery Johnson’s Journey Thus Far

Avery Johnson’s journey began at Maize High School in Wichita, Kansas, where he honed his craft alongside new Kansas State wide receiver Justin Stephens. Their chemistry, which got stronger throughout their high school years, shows a lot of promise for polishing the Wildcats’ passing game.

With veteran receivers like Caleb Medford and Jaron Tibbs joining the roster, Kansas State’s offense is looking better than ever.

Last season, Johnson threw for 2,712 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while rushing for 605 yards and seven scores. His dual-threat prowess places him among only two Power Four quarterbacks with at least 2,500 passing and 525 rushing yards in 2024.

RELATED: Kansas State 2025 Football Schedule: Avery Johnson’s Heisman Push?

In the end, Avery Johnson’s new Mercedes AMG is a statement about his financial status and the rising earnings of college football players thanks to the NIL deals and personal sponsorship deals.

With Kansas State HC Chris Klieman’s guidance and a talented roster, Johnson’s next step could lead the Wildcats to national prominence. As the 2025 season looms, all eyes are on Manhattan, where a lavender legacy is turning legendary.

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Scheduling for the 2025-26 college basketball season is well under way.

Among those games are annual exempt multi-team events — regular-season tournaments — for which the NCAA has defined rules.

Here is a tracker for what tournaments the Missouri Valley Conference’s 11 teams have joined for the 2025-26 season, as of Saturday, May 31, 2025. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

Bradley

Bradley will play in the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational in the Orlando area Nov. 24-26 in the three-game Adventure Bracket. The field includes Bradley, Towson, Temple, Princeton, Rhode Island, Vermont, UC San Diego and Liberty.

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The Bradley Braves are 23-13 in such tournament play under coach Brian Wardle, and have won championships in the Cancun Challenge (2018), Don Haskins Sunbowl Invitational (2021), SoCal Challenge (2023) and Myrtle Beach Classic (2024).

Evansville is in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Nov. 21-24. The field includes Evansville, Akron, Charleston, Green Bay, Iona, Oregon State, U-Mass and Yale. Evansville opens with a game against Oregon State on Nov. 21.

Murray State

Murray State is in the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 23-25. The format is three games, and the field includes Murray State, George Washington, McNeese State, Middle Tennessee State and four more teams as yet unannounced.

Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa in the Acrisure Series in Palm Desert, Calif. on Nov. 25-28. The 21-team field shows Northern Iowa, Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon, Colorado, Iowa, Loyola Chicago, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Saint Louis, San Diego, San Jose State, Santa Clara, Stanford, Tulsa, Pepperdine, San Francisco, Fresno, Ole Miss, Utah and Washington. Tournament format is undetermined at this time.

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For subscribers: Opt outs and Bradley’s NIL collective in the NCAA portal era

Illinois State

Illinois State in the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational in the Orlando area on Nov. 27-28. The Redbirds are part of the Imagination Bracket, which will be a two-game format. The field includes Illinois State, Charlotte, Richmond and Furman.

Drake is in the Emerald Coast Classic at Destin, Fla. on Nov. 28-29. It’s a two-game format. The field includes Drake, DePaul, Georgia Tech and LSU.

MVC teams without a tournament

As of May 31, Belmont, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso do not have a multi-team tournament scheduled.

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Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: MVC basketball: Tracking 2025 regular-season tournaments in Valley