Monday, November 6
Las Vegas, Nev.
11:00 AM
USC
vs
Ohio State
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
No. 21 USC Women’s Basketball Opens Season Against No. 7 Ohio State In Las Vegas
October 31, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Trojans take on the Buckeyes in the Hall of Fame Series before a home opener celebrating NCAA history at Galen.
— HALL OF FAME SERIES —
#21 USC vs. #7/6 Ohio State
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nev.
Monday, Nov. 6 | 11 a.m.
Series Record (since 1983-84): USC trails 3-4
Last Meeting: L 77-58 [11/19/06 • Columbus, Ohio]
Last USC win: 85-81 [12/18/87 • Los Angeles]
TV: TruTV (Talent: Angel Gray & Candace Parker)
STATS | WEB
— USC HOME OPENER & NCAA CHAMPIONS CELEBRATION —
#21 USC vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Saturday, Nov. 10 | 7 p.m.
Series Record: FIRST MEETING
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC kicks off its 2023-24 campaign ranked No. 21 in the nation — the first Associated Press and USA Today preseason rankings for the Women of Troy since 2011. USC's season opener takes the Trojans to Las Vegas for competition at the Hall of Fame Series, where No. 21 USC will take on No. 7/6 Ohio State at 11 a.m. on Monday (Nov. 6). That same evening at T-Mobile, the USC men take the court at the Hall of Fame Series in their season opener. After the Women of Troy's top-10 clash at T-Mobile Arena, USC returns to Los Angeles to set up for its home opener. The Trojans host Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Galen Center. The night will also feature a celebration of the 40th anniversary of USC's back-to-back NCAA Championship teams. Many members of the 1983 and 1984 rosters will be in attendance, including Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper.
FOLLOW ALONG
TruTV will be televising the USC women's game at the Hall of Fame Series on Nov. 6. The Trojans' home opener will be streamed live at pac-12.com/live/usc.
IN THE POLLS
USC's No. 21 preseason national ranking marks the fourth time the Trojans have appeared in preseason AP and USA Today polls since 2005. It's the highest preseason ranking for USC in that span, following No. 23 in 2011, No. 22 and 2006 and No. 24 (AP) and No. 22 (USA Today) in 2005.
TOP TALENT
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.
BLOCK LOCK
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. Now a junior and coming off a summer preparing for and playing for the USA in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup, 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.
VETERAN STATUS
In addition to Marshall, USC welcomes back a strong group of returners from last season's success. Now a senior, guard Kayla Williams picked up 2023 Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention, 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.
DEPTH CHARGE
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.
GRAD GREATS
With a proven eye for talent, USC head coach Lindsay 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. 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.
LAST SEASON
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, when USC won the Pac-12 Tournament title. USC's 2023 NCAA appearance marked its first at-large bid into the tourney since 2006.
#21 USC vs. #7/6 Ohio State
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nev.
Monday, Nov. 6 | 11 a.m.
Series Record (since 1983-84): USC trails 3-4
Last Meeting: L 77-58 [11/19/06 • Columbus, Ohio]
Last USC win: 85-81 [12/18/87 • Los Angeles]
TV: TruTV (Talent: Angel Gray & Candace Parker)
STATS | WEB
— USC HOME OPENER & NCAA CHAMPIONS CELEBRATION —
#21 USC vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Saturday, Nov. 10 | 7 p.m.
Series Record: FIRST MEETING
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC kicks off its 2023-24 campaign ranked No. 21 in the nation — the first Associated Press and USA Today preseason rankings for the Women of Troy since 2011. USC's season opener takes the Trojans to Las Vegas for competition at the Hall of Fame Series, where No. 21 USC will take on No. 7/6 Ohio State at 11 a.m. on Monday (Nov. 6). That same evening at T-Mobile, the USC men take the court at the Hall of Fame Series in their season opener. After the Women of Troy's top-10 clash at T-Mobile Arena, USC returns to Los Angeles to set up for its home opener. The Trojans host Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Galen Center. The night will also feature a celebration of the 40th anniversary of USC's back-to-back NCAA Championship teams. Many members of the 1983 and 1984 rosters will be in attendance, including Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper.
FOLLOW ALONG
TruTV will be televising the USC women's game at the Hall of Fame Series on Nov. 6. The Trojans' home opener will be streamed live at pac-12.com/live/usc.
IN THE POLLS
USC's No. 21 preseason national ranking marks the fourth time the Trojans have appeared in preseason AP and USA Today polls since 2005. It's the highest preseason ranking for USC in that span, following No. 23 in 2011, No. 22 and 2006 and No. 24 (AP) and No. 22 (USA Today) in 2005.
TOP TALENT
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.
BLOCK LOCK
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. Now a junior and coming off a summer preparing for and playing for the USA in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup, 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.
VETERAN STATUS
In addition to Marshall, USC welcomes back a strong group of returners from last season's success. Now a senior, guard Kayla Williams picked up 2023 Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention, 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.
DEPTH CHARGE
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.
GRAD GREATS
With a proven eye for talent, USC head coach Lindsay 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. 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.
LAST SEASON
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, when USC won the Pac-12 Tournament title. USC's 2023 NCAA appearance marked its first at-large bid into the tourney since 2006.
USC WBB's Londynn Jones on Her Trojan Debut, Connection with HC Lindsay Gottlieb
Tuesday, November 04
USC Women's Basketball vs New Mexico State Post Game Press Conference (11/04/25)
Tuesday, November 04
USC Women's Basketball vs New Mexico State Highlights | Trojans win 87-48
Tuesday, November 04
USC WBB Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb | Preseason Media Availability 10/30
Thursday, October 30
