2024-25 Big Ten Opponents Announced for USC Women’s Basketball

The Big Ten Conference has announced the 2024-24 women's basketball home and away opponents, with USC lined up to bring nine Big Ten teams to Galen Center in its debut season in the conference. Year One of Big Ten action will see the Women of Troy host Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and UCLA.

The 18-game schedule has USC facing every team in the conference once, along with a home-and-away series against rival UCLA. In addition to the trip to Westwood, USC's Big Ten road work includes visits to Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, Washington and Wisconsin.

"It's such an exciting time for our program, and our move to the Big Ten will put us on the biggest stage, playing some of the most exciting matchups in women's college basketball," USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity that our fans have to see marquee matchups in Galen. I'm also looking forward to preparing our team to play in tough, electric environments across the Big Ten. I think the growth trajectory of women's basketball will continue to skyrocket, as so many big-time games will be seen on major networks."

As it steps into the Big Ten Conference, USC is coming off its first NCAA Elite Eight run since 1994 and its second Pac-12 Tournament championship. Grad transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia Von Oelhoffen are joining fellow All-Pac-12 honorees Rayah Marshall and JuJu Watkins for a 2024-25 Trojan team that also boasts the top-ranked freshman class in the nation in Rian Forestier, Kayleigh Heckel, Avery Howell, Vivian Iwuchukwu, Brooklyn Shamblin, Kennedy Smith and Laura Williams. Last season, USC posted wins over future Big Ten opponents Ohio State and Penn State in the Trojans' historic 29-6 season, which saw Gottlieb named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award and Watkins selected a Naismith finalist as well as the winner of National Freshman of the Year awards.

Dates and times for Big Ten games will be released at a later date, as will USC's nonconference schedule.

NOTABLE:
- As USC enters the Big Ten, it holds a 27-23 all-time record against current Big Ten teams (record does not include incoming members Oregon, UCLA and Washington)
- USC will be facing both Illinois and Wisconsin for the first time in program history.
- The 2024-25 meetings will feature the first-ever visits to Galen Center for Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.
- USC will be playing road games at Indiana, Iowa, Purdue and Wisconsin for the first time.

2024-25 BIG TEN OPPONENTS (series record)

HOME
^Illinois (0-0)
Michigan (1-1)
^Michigan State (2-1)
^Minnesota (1-1)
Nebraska (3-5)
^Northwestern (2-1)
^Ohio State (4-4)
^Penn State (4-1)
^ — first meeting at Galen Center

AWAY
#Indiana (1-0)
#Iowa (1-4)
Maryland (5-0)
Oregon (48-30)
#Purdue (1-0)
Rutgers (2-5)
Washington (37-38)
#Wisconsin (0-0)
# — USC's first visit to opponent

HOME & AWAY
UCLA (52-57)

Players Mentioned

Rayah Marshall

JuJu Watkins