No. 17 USC Set For Crosstown Showdown Against No. 4 UCLA

Saturday, January 3

Los Angeles, Calif.

5:00 p.m.

USC

UCLA

Photo by: Chris Mora

No. 17 USC Set For Crosstown Showdown Against No. 4 UCLA

January 02, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

Women of Troy to face UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. PT.

LOS ANGELES - USC's first game of 2026 takes the No. 17 Trojans across town to square off against rival No. 4 UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 3. USC (10-3, 2-0) visits the Bruins (13-1, 3-0) for a 5 p.m. meeting at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood.

The Trojans are fresh off a hard fought 74-66 victory over No. 20 Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Women of Troy, who defeated UCLA to capture the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season Title, are in search of redemtion after falling to the Bruins in the Big Ten Tournament.

SERIES RECORD: 54-58
LAST MEETING: L, 72-67 (March 9, 2025) • Indianapolis, Ind. // Gainbridge Fieldhouse
HEAD COACH: Cori Close (15th season at UCLA 334-144)
CONFERENCE: Big Ten Conference
STREAK: L, 1-0
TV/STREAM: Peacock (PxP - Cindy Brunson, Analyst - Meghan McKeown, Reporter - Elise Woodward)
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Be the 887th win in program history (886-569)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 104rd win at USC (103-39)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 338th win as a head coach (337-167)
Help USC improve to 3-0 in Big Ten Play
Be USC's fourth ranked win of the season (3-3 against ranked opponents this season)
Mark the second straight year the Trojans open Big Ten play 3-0 or better.
Snap UCLA's undefeated streak at Pauley Pavillion this season (6-0)

SCOUTING UCLA

UCLA opened the 2025-26 season ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll, released Oct. 14.
The Bruins boast seven McDonald's All Americans on the roster: Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Angela Dugalic, Timea Gardiner, Gabriela
Jaquez, Amanda Muse, and Kiki Rice. Jaquez and Rice shared co-MVP honors in the all-star game.
UCLA has five players averaging double figures; the Bruin starting five totals 70.7 points per game.
The Bruins lead the Big Ten in assists (311 TOTAL, 22.2 APG) and assist/turnover ratio (1.87 A/TO) at the midway point. UCLA is also second in the conference, third in the nation in rebounding margin (+15.6 RPG).

USC-UCLA TIES

USC SR Londynn Jones previously spent three seasons at UCLA, appearing in 108 consecutive games at UCLA.
USC assistant coach Nikki Blue was a four-time First-Team All-Pac-10 guard for UCLA (2002-2006) and was an WBCA All-American as a senior.
USC freshman Jazzy Davidson and UCLA freshman Sienna Betts won gold together over the summer with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is fourth nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (7.1 / 92 total)
As a squad, USC is fifth in the Big Ten and 38th nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 55.2 ppg on average.
FR Jazzy Davidson currently leads the Trojans in nearly every major statistical category (16.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 spg and 2.7 bpg).
The freshman also leads USC in minutes played, averaging 32.7
Davidson has recorded 12 double-figuring scoring games this season, including ten straight games since Nov. 18
Davidson ranks 9th nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks (35). Standing at 6'1", she is also the shortest in the top-10 with such numbers. The freshman is 10th nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.69).
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten and 16th nationally in field goal attempts (215). She is also tied for 2nd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (215).
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 121 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 13 at USC)
USC has played just 2 road games this season, having traveled to Nebraska and Notre Dame. All of USC's other games up to this point have been played at either the Galen Center (7-1) or at neutral sites (2-1).
The Trojans are holding opponents to just 55.2 on 35.6 percent shooting despite playing six top-25 teams through 13 games

LAST TIME OUT

USC defeated No. 20 Nebraska 74-66 on Monday, Dec. 29 in Lincoln, Nebraska
FR Jazzy Davidson scored 17 points to record her 12th double-figure performance of the season (10th straight game in double figures). The freshman also tied her career high 5 blocks and contributed eight rebounds, three assists and a steal
SR Londynn Jones got her second start of the season on Monday afternoon, posting 13 points and 3 steals. Jones was 3-for-5 from three
SO Kennedy Smith put up a season best 17 points and a season high 9 rebounds
SR Kara Dunn put up 14 points and contributed five rebounds and two steals
USC held Nebraska to under 80 points for the first time this season
USC outscored Nebraska by 15 points over the final two quarters, turning a two-point halftime deficit into an eight-point win
The Trojans were +13 on the boards, out-rebounding the Cornhuskers 38-25 (16 offensive rebounds)
USC held Nebraska scoreless from the field over the final 2:42
USC had four players score in double figures for the third time this season - Davidson (17), Smith (17), Dunn (14) and Jones (13)
USC won the battle in paint points (44-28), points off turnovers (27-18) and second chance points (19-13)

B1G OPENER

USC opened conference play with a 59-50 win over No. 21 Washington on Dec. 7, 2025
FR Jazzy Davidson notched her second career double-double with a career and game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
JR Gerda Raulušaityte scored a career-high eight points. The forward also had eight rebounds, shot 100% from the field and had a game-high +15 rating
SO Kennedy Smith tallied 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and team-high two steals

NONCONFERENCE RECAP

USC wrapped up nonconference play 8-3, including one win over a ranked opponent (No. 9 NC State). The Trojans three losses were to No. 1 UConn, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 24 Notre Dame (2 point margin of defeat).
The Trojans averaged 71.7 ppg in nonconference play.
USC defeated Cal 61-57 to close out nonconference play 8-3. Against the Golden Bears, USC recorded a season-high 50 rebounds and FR Jazzy Davidson posted a career best 24 points
The Women of Troy finished nonconference play 6-1 at home, 2-1 at neutral sites and 0-1 on the road.
FR Jazzy Davidson led the Trojans in every statistical category in nonconference play - 16.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.2 spg, 2.5 bpg and 32:2 mpg.
SR Londynn Jones scored a career and game-high 28 points and 11 made field goals against Cal Poly.
FR Jazzy Davidson scored a career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
SO Kennedy Smith led USC in points (16) and rebounds (7) against No. 1 UConn. Smith also led USC in scoring against No. 2 South Carolina (12)

DAVIDSON'S DOMINANCE

ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the Dec. 18 women's college basketball freshman impact rankings (Davidson was also No. 1 preseason)
Davidson currently leads the Trojans in four major statistical categories (16.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 spg and 2.7 bpg).
Davidson has recorded 12 double figure scoring games this season (10 straight games)
Davidson is the only player this season with multiple five-block games against ranked opponents
The newcomer put up 14 points (second leading scorer), had five rebounds, four assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 points, had five blocks, four assists, three steals and was perfect from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the winning basket in USC's victory over NC State as the freshman made a fast break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining in the game.
Davidson posted a breakthrough performance versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she finished with 20 points (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not only led all players but also marked the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall's performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson also chipped in four assists and two blocks to round out the effort.
Davidson stayed hot on Nov. 28, tallying 18 points along with four rebounds, five assists, and a game-high three blocks in the win over Pepperdine.
Against Washington, Davidson notched her second career double-double with a game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
Against Cal, Davidson scored a career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
At Nebraska, Davidson scored 17 points and contributed five blocks, eight rebounds, three assists and 1 steal.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT DAVIDSON

"She plays well with the ball in her hands, and she makes good decisions, she makes great shots. Just a high-level player. Like, a really high-level player that doesn't really play like a freshman." - South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley
"Jazzy Davidson has no weaknesses in her game and she's just a freshman. USC has another superstar." - NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
"Jazzy Davidson was the No. 1 overall recruit for a reason. She can do everything. An instant star for USC." - NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
"It was a big night for freshman Jazzy Davidson, who's currently my frontrunner for NFOY." - On3 reporter Talia Goodman after USC defeated Washington
"She's probably the best freshman in the country at this point based on what has happend on the court, not the hype part." - UConn head coach Geno Auriemma

KENNEDY SMITH STEPS UP

Sophomore Kennedy Smith has stepped up for the Trojans this season under pressure, scoring in doube figures against No. 21 Washington (13), No. 2 UConn (16) and No. 20 Nebraska (17)
Smith posted a season best 17 points against No. 20 Nebraska, also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal
Through 13 games, Smith leads the Trojans in asists per game, averaging 3.7

JONES JUST GETS IT

Appearing in her first ever game as a Trojan, UCLA transfer Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points off the bench. The senior came off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was also 4-4 from the charity stripe.
Making her Trojan debut, UCLA senior transfer Londynn Jones has been an offensive powerhouse for USC off the bench. Against New Mexico State, Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. On Sunday, Jones' 19 points off the bench were crucial in USC's 69-68 victory over No. 9 NC State. The senior also had three rebounds and three assists.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
Through 13 games (11 coming off the bench), Jones averages 12.5 points, 1.5 RBG and 1.8 APG in 23.3 minutes/game (avg).
The senior got her first start as a Trojan against Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six points, five assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary's, Jones put up a team-high 17 points.
Against Cal Poly, Jones posted a career-high 28 points, while also contributing four steals and two rebounds.
Jones, who has appeared in 121 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA. 13 at USC), has recorded eight double-figure scoring performances for the Women of Troy this season.

SIGNING DAY SUCCESS
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb announced the signing of Saniyah Halland Sitaya Fagan, two of the most nationally renowned prospects in the Class of 2026. Hall, the No. 1ranked recruit in the country, and Fagan, a five-star international standout from Australia, further elevate a USC program already rising among the top tiers of women's college basketball.

Hall becomes USC's third No. 1 ranked recruit in four years, continuing the program's unprecedented run of elite recruiting success.

Most recently, Fagan won the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup with Australia, also being named the MVP of the Tournament. The incoming Trojan was named Basketball Victoria's (Centre of Excellence) 2025 Female Junior Athlete of the Year, a significant award recognizing her breakout year. \

GOTTLIEB GETS IT
Now in her fifth season as head coach at USC, Lindsay Gottlieb has guided Women of Troy to historic runs with back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 2024 and 2025. Also a two-time finalist for the Werner Ladder National Coach of the Year award, Gottlieb led USC to its second-ever Pac-12 Tournament title in 2024 and its first-ever Big Ten regular-season title in 2025. USC also earned a No. 1 seed in the 2024 and 2025 NCAA Tournaments, marking the first time in over 40 years the program has done so.

Gottlieb's 103 game win count at USC is third all-time amongst Trojan head coaches. Picking up her 100th career win at USC against No. 21 Washington, Gottlieb became the fastest Trojan head coach in program history to reach the milestone (138 games).

BIG TEN PRESEASON POLLS

Entering its second season in the Big Ten Conference, USC women's basketball was picked No. 4 in the Coaches Preseason Poll on October 2, 2025. The Women of Troy earned the No. 3 spot in the media's preseason rankings.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

The Trojans will have no shortage of tests throughout the season as USC is slated to face 10 teams ranked in the AP Preseason Top 25, including six matchups against preseason top 10 opponents. Gottlieb's squad will take on the nation's top three preseason ranked programs - No. 1 UConn, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 3 UCLA (twice), in what is arguably one of the toughest schedules in women's college basketball.