Despite spending the last year away from the hardwood, JuJu Watkins is preparing to make one of the most significant retail debuts in the history of women’s sports. The USC guard is set to release her first signature shoe with Nike, the LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu “Silver Lining.”

The collaboration makes the Watts native the first athlete to co-create a signature shoe under the LeBron NXXT brand. Working alongside LeBron James, the star sophomore sought to infuse the design with elements deeply personal to her journey and her roots. The "Silver Lining" colorway nods to  Watkins’ resilience following a torn ACL suffered during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. While the injury sidelined the consensus National Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, the design process became a form of motivation during her rehabilitation.

Personal touches are embedded throughout the footwear, including a quilted flower pattern on the interior collar and a "By JuJu" doodle on the back of the tongue. In an effort to pay homage to Southern California sneaker culture, the shoe features 16-millimeter "fat laces," a staple of the Los Angeles aesthetic. The guard introduced the project last month at a Nike community store in Watts, surrounded by signs reading "Watts Made," emphasizing her connection to the neighborhood that raised her.

Before her injury, the 6-foot-2 playmaker was dominant, averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. Her trophy room already includes the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award.