Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Chris Mora
2023-24 USC Women's Basketball Season Outlook
October 23, 2023 | Women's Basketball
The Women of Troy enter the season ranked No. 21 in the nation with their season opener coming up on Nov. 6.
The road to success takes time, patience and perseverance — all of which USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has made sure to instill into the program's culture, staff and players. Heading into the 2023-24 season ranked No. 21 in the nation, the Trojans are gearing up for an exciting season in the Pac-12 and beyond. After making historic strides last season, Gottlieb's team is taking competitiveness to the next level.
"Our culture is really strong," Gottlieb said during Pac-12 Media Day. "I know people throw that word around a lot, but coming into practice every day, they raise the bar. They're fun to be around. They're really about winning. They're about one another."
During the 2022-23 season, the USC women went 11-7 in conference play and finished 21-10 overall. Succeeding in arguably one of the most competitive conferences, the Women of Troy were able to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. While last season's accomplishments are none to graze over, offseason developments and a highly talented roster make for a highly anticipated season to come.
For just the second time in program history, USC women's basketball welcomes the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year to Troy, with the addition of heralded incoming freshman JuJu Watkins. Watkins follows in the footsteps of another Los Angeles native, Lisa Leslie, a Trojan great who was the Gatorade Player of the Year in 1990 on her way into USC.
As the ultimate goal is a national championship, Gottlieb works to rebuild and instill a winning culture to a program with rich history and pride. With that injection of high-level talent in Watkins along with experience from returning players and readiness from USC's other new faces, the USC women are ready to do just that.
Defense was one of USC's strengths last season with the help of Rayah Marshall, who earned All-Pac12 Team honors as she led the conference in total rebounds with 322 and was second in the nation with 98 blocks as a sophomore. After her summer preparing for and playing for the USA in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico this past July, Gottlieb has seen even more growth in Marshall.
"She's become a vocal leader and a day-to-day leader for us," Gottlieb said. "She just has such a knack protecting that rim, and her shot blocking excites people."
Marshall's shot blocking and rebounding ability coupled with her newfound leadership has made her an essential role player for the Women of Troy as she enters her junior season tasked with time in the paint as a center.
Now a senior, guard Kayla Williams picked up Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention last season, having started all 31 games as a reliable backcourt defender for the team. Also back for more in 2023-24 is redshirt sophomore guard Taylor Bigby, who brings length and sharpshooting to the perimeter, where fifth-year guard India Otto also is a proven threat. Now with two years under her belt at USC, 6-6 center Clarice Akunwafo is back to help man the paint as a junior.
Decidedly the top freshman in the nation, the decorated Watkins is preparing for her USC debut on Nov. 6. With the season inching closer with each practice, Watkins said during Pac-12 Media Day that she's "always thinking of my goals and how I plan to approach the game, but ultimately the team goal is to win, and that's what I'm focused on."
Fellow freshman Malia Samuels comes into the season having been named Washington's 2022 3A Player of the Year, adding point guard savvy and defensive talents to the squad. USC's guard depth is intensified as redshirt sophomore guard Dominique Onu steps on the court this season for her first action as a Trojan following her midseason transfer from UCLA. And after redshirting her first season, guard Aaliyah Gayles is lined up for her Trojan debut as well.
With a proven eye for talent, Gottlieb has added four graduate transfers to the 2023-24 Trojan roster. Three — Kaitlyn Davis, McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla — were standouts in the Ivy League, and one — Roxane Makolo — boasts international experience with Team Canada.
"They're really good," Gottlieb said. "They've played a lot of basketball. They've had significant roles, and they want to win, and I think they give us a good balance of really mature older kids with our young talent."
A proven point guard in her time at Penn, Padilla joins the Trojans as a three-time All-Ivy First Team selection. Her speed and basketball IQ will be an asset to the team for the upcoming season. Marshall and Akunwafo will be supported in the paint with Columbia forward Davis, whose strength and agility make her extremely difficult to defend. With depth comes versatility as Forbes returns to her home state after three strong years at Harvard, where she earned 2022 All-Ivy Second Team honors. She also was recently selected to the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Looking forward and moving onward is the key to success for the Trojan women. In what may be the most competitive conference season yet, USC fans have a fun season to look forward to.
"We've got some talent in that gym," Gottlieb said. "But really I think it's about that collective identity of trying to get USC basketball back to heights that we've been at in the past, and it's an exciting journey."
"Our culture is really strong," Gottlieb said during Pac-12 Media Day. "I know people throw that word around a lot, but coming into practice every day, they raise the bar. They're fun to be around. They're really about winning. They're about one another."
During the 2022-23 season, the USC women went 11-7 in conference play and finished 21-10 overall. Succeeding in arguably one of the most competitive conferences, the Women of Troy were able to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. While last season's accomplishments are none to graze over, offseason developments and a highly talented roster make for a highly anticipated season to come.
For just the second time in program history, USC women's basketball welcomes the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year to Troy, with the addition of heralded incoming freshman JuJu Watkins. Watkins follows in the footsteps of another Los Angeles native, Lisa Leslie, a Trojan great who was the Gatorade Player of the Year in 1990 on her way into USC.
As the ultimate goal is a national championship, Gottlieb works to rebuild and instill a winning culture to a program with rich history and pride. With that injection of high-level talent in Watkins along with experience from returning players and readiness from USC's other new faces, the USC women are ready to do just that.
Defense was one of USC's strengths last season with the help of Rayah Marshall, who earned All-Pac12 Team honors as she led the conference in total rebounds with 322 and was second in the nation with 98 blocks as a sophomore. After her summer preparing for and playing for the USA in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico this past July, Gottlieb has seen even more growth in Marshall.
"She's become a vocal leader and a day-to-day leader for us," Gottlieb said. "She just has such a knack protecting that rim, and her shot blocking excites people."
Marshall's shot blocking and rebounding ability coupled with her newfound leadership has made her an essential role player for the Women of Troy as she enters her junior season tasked with time in the paint as a center.
Now a senior, guard Kayla Williams picked up Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention last season, having started all 31 games as a reliable backcourt defender for the team. Also back for more in 2023-24 is redshirt sophomore guard Taylor Bigby, who brings length and sharpshooting to the perimeter, where fifth-year guard India Otto also is a proven threat. Now with two years under her belt at USC, 6-6 center Clarice Akunwafo is back to help man the paint as a junior.
Decidedly the top freshman in the nation, the decorated Watkins is preparing for her USC debut on Nov. 6. With the season inching closer with each practice, Watkins said during Pac-12 Media Day that she's "always thinking of my goals and how I plan to approach the game, but ultimately the team goal is to win, and that's what I'm focused on."
Fellow freshman Malia Samuels comes into the season having been named Washington's 2022 3A Player of the Year, adding point guard savvy and defensive talents to the squad. USC's guard depth is intensified as redshirt sophomore guard Dominique Onu steps on the court this season for her first action as a Trojan following her midseason transfer from UCLA. And after redshirting her first season, guard Aaliyah Gayles is lined up for her Trojan debut as well.
With a proven eye for talent, Gottlieb has added four graduate transfers to the 2023-24 Trojan roster. Three — Kaitlyn Davis, McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla — were standouts in the Ivy League, and one — Roxane Makolo — boasts international experience with Team Canada.
"They're really good," Gottlieb said. "They've played a lot of basketball. They've had significant roles, and they want to win, and I think they give us a good balance of really mature older kids with our young talent."
A proven point guard in her time at Penn, Padilla joins the Trojans as a three-time All-Ivy First Team selection. Her speed and basketball IQ will be an asset to the team for the upcoming season. Marshall and Akunwafo will be supported in the paint with Columbia forward Davis, whose strength and agility make her extremely difficult to defend. With depth comes versatility as Forbes returns to her home state after three strong years at Harvard, where she earned 2022 All-Ivy Second Team honors. She also was recently selected to the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Looking forward and moving onward is the key to success for the Trojan women. In what may be the most competitive conference season yet, USC fans have a fun season to look forward to.
"We've got some talent in that gym," Gottlieb said. "But really I think it's about that collective identity of trying to get USC basketball back to heights that we've been at in the past, and it's an exciting journey."
USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
USC WBB Defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16, Advances to Elite Eight | Trojan Press Conference
Saturday, March 29
