USC Women's Basketball Set for First-Ever Meeting with Clemson in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament

Saturday, March 21

Columbia, S.C.

12:30 p.m.

USC

Clemson

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Photo by: Katie Chin

USC Women's Basketball Set for First-Ever Meeting with Clemson in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament

March 19, 2026 | Women's Basketball

USC Postseason Media Guide NCAA Hub GAME NOTES

Trojans to face Tigers at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.

COLUMBIA, SC – The USC women's basketball team (17-13) is set for its return to the national stage as the Trojans earned a No. 9 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, drawing No. 8 seed Clemson (21-11) in a First Round matchup on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT in Columbia, S.C. The game will be played at Colonial Life Arena, home of regional host and No. 1 seed South Carolina. The Gamecocks will face either Samford or Southern University in the opening round, with the winners of Saturday's contests advancing to the NCAA Second Round on Monday, March 23.

Saturday's match up marks a historic first meeting between the Trojans and Tigers, as USC faces Clemson for the first time in program history. It also presents a new challenge for the Women of Troy against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling postseason showdown, as USC enters the matchup with a 2-1 record against ACC opponents this season.

Under fifth-year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, USC continues its steady presence in March Madness, making its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since a five year run from 1991-95.

SERIES RECORD: 0-0
LAST MEETING: N/A
HEAD COACH: Shawn Poppie (2nd season - 35-28)
CONFERENCE: Atlantic Coast Conference
STREAK: N/A
TV/STREAM: ESPN 2 - Mike Monaco (PxP), Stephanie White (Color), Molly McGrath (Sideline)
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Help USC improve to 36-17 in NCAA Tournament play (35-17 currently)
Be the 894th win in program history (893-579)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 111th win at USC (110-49)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 346th win as a head coach (345-178)
Help USC improve to 3-1 against ACC opponents this season
Help the Trojans advance to the quarterfinals of the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in program history
Be USC's first win in the month of March this season

SCOUTING CLEMSON

Clemson fell to Duke, 60-46 in Duluth, Georgia, during the Quarterfinals of the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament.
Clemson is ranked 48th nationally (1st in the ACC) in scoring defense, allowing 58.7 points per game, and 38th nationally (2nd in the ACC) in 3-pointers per game (8.1 3FG Per Game).
In 19 games this season, Clemson has held its opponent to under 60 points.
The Tigers are led by the scoring duo of senior guard Mia Moore (All-ACC 2nd Team, 13.5 ppg.) and junior guard/ forward Rusne Augustinaite (10.9 ppg.).
Augustinaite is also averaging 2.5 3PM Per Game (3rd in the ACC) and her 80 3PM Ranks 47th Nationally (Needs single 3-pointer to capture the single season program record).

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is 8th nationally & leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (5.8) (174 total)
Jazzy Davidson wrapped the regular season leading USC outright in every major statistical category, including points (17.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.1), a feat unmatched by any other Division I player during the 2025-26 season.
Davidson has recorded 28 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 26 straight games since Nov. 18 through March 1. Davidson also has 13 20+ point performances this season (one 30+ performance) and six out of the last eight scoring 20+.
Nationally, Davidson ranks 20th in blocks per game (2.00) and 23rd in total blocks (60), both second in the Big Ten. Davidson is the only player in Division 1 basketball averaging at least 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 21st nationally in field goal attempts at 497, 3rd amongst all D1 freshman.
Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26. Dunn posted her eighth 20+ point performance against Penn State, dropping 24 points against the Lady Lions.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 138 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 30 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.3 percent from the charity stripe
R-FR Laura Williams has started the last eight games for the Trojans, averaging 8.8 RPG as a starter.

NCAA NOTES

USC is 35-17 in the NCAA Tournament, with two NCAA title victories (1983 and 1984).
This is the Trojans' 20th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
USC is making a fourth consecutive NCAA appearance for the first time since a five-year run from 1991-95.
The 2025 Women of Troy were selected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.
An automatic qualifier as Pac-12 Tournament champion in 2024, USC was a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA tourney for the first time since 1986, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 and falling to UConn.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament — UC Santa Barbara (2009), California (seven appearances in eight seasons) and USC (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026).
USC has played 14 other teams in the 68-team field of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, including No. 1 seed UCLA , No. 1 seed UConn, No. 1 seed South Carolina, No. 2 seed Michigan, No. 2 seed Iowa, No. 3 seed Ohio State, No. 5 seed Maryland , No. 5 seed Michigan State, No. 4 seed Minnesota, No. 6 seed Washington, No. 6 seed Notre Dame, No. 7 seed NC State, No. 8 seed Oregon and No. 11 seed Nebraska.
USC is one of 10 Big Ten teams in this year's NCAA bracket.
8 Trojans have previously played in the NCAA Tournament - Vivian Iwuchukwu (1x), Rian Forestier (1x), Kara Dunn (1x Georgia Tech), Londynn Jones (3x), Yakiya Milton (1x), Kennedy Smith (1x), Brooklyn Shamblin (1x) and Malia Samuels (1x).

LAST TIME OUT

USC fell 76-64 to [8] Washington UCLA on Thursday, March 5 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
R-FR Laura Williams recorded 13 rebounds for her fourth double digit performance of the season. Williams also had a career high three assists and points made with 9 while adding two blocks.
SO Kennedy Smith had 14 points. Smith also contributed three assists and three steals
SR Londynn Jones led USC with 19 points, her most in conference play this season. Jones also had two rebounds and two assists and shot 8-for-9 from the charity stripe.
USC scored 14 points off 18 Husky turnovers
The Trojans led the Huskies in second chance points (19-10), fast break points (6-5) and bench points (8-7).
USC held Washington guard Sayvia Sellers to four points and zero made field goals (averaged 19.2 ppg entering today's contest)
USC outscored Washington 28-20 in the fourth quarter and converted six points off turnovers from the press

ALL THAT JAZZ

Davidson was named the National Freshman of the Year by The Athletic and received All-America Honorable Mention nods from the Associated Press and USBWA
After a record-setting regular season, USC freshman Jazzy Davidson was been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while also earning First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. Davidson was a unanimous First-Team selection for both the All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team, and was the lone freshman selected to both the All-Big Ten and All-Defensive Team.
ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the March top 10 Freshman impact rankings. Davidson was also first at the midseason point and preseason.
Wrapped the regular season leading USC outright in every major statistical category, including points (17.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.1), a feat unmatched by any other Division I player during the 2025-26 season.
Davidson has recorded 28 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 26 straight games since Nov. 18 through March 1. Davidson also has 13 20+ point performances this season (one 30+ performance) and six out of the last eight scoring 20+.
Nationally, Davidson ranks 20th in blocks per game (2.00) and 23rd in total blocks (60), both second in the Big Ten. Davidson is the only player in Division 1 basketball averaging at least 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 21st nationally in field goal attempts at 497, 3rd amongst all D1 freshman.
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.
Against No. 21 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 then-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 then-career best with three three-pointers.
At No. 20 Nebraska, Davidson scored 17 points and contributed five blocks, eight rebounds, three assists and 1 steal.
Davidson recorded her third double-double against Oregon, putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds (11 defensive), five assists, two blocks and two steals.
Against No. 8 Iowa on Jan. 29, the freshman delivered a complete performance with 21 points and eight assists, accounting for 40 total points. Davidson also added four rebounds, two steals and one block in USC's statement win at the Galen Center.
Against Illinois, Jazzy Davidson recorded a then-career-high 27 points, also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists against the Illini. With eight assits, Davidson contributed an additional 20 points, accounting for 47 against Illinois.
Davidson's strongest performance of the season came on the one of the biggest stage's, with the freshman recording 32 points against No. 10 Ohio State. She scored a team- and career-high 32 points (6-for-9 3PT, 4-for-6 FT), extending her double-figure streak to 24 games. She has posted 20+ points in five straight and 12 times this season. Her 32 points are the most by a Trojan this year and the first 30-point game for USC since Kiki Iriafen vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball (March 24, 2025). She is also the first USC freshman to score 30+ since JuJu Watkins vs. the UCLA Bruins women's basketball(March 8, 2024). Davidson added a career-high six made threes and matched her career best with 11 field goals.

KENNEDY SMITH STEPS UP

Sophomore Kennedy Smith is second on the squad in steals per game (1.9)
Sophomore Kennedy Smith has stepped up for the Trojans this season under pressure, scoring in double figures against No. 21 Washington (13), No. 2 UConn (16), No. 20 Nebraska (17), No. 13 Michigan State (15), No. 8 Iowa (12), No. 10 Ohio State (18) and No. 2 UCLA (11).
Smith posted a then-season best 17 points against No. 20 Nebraska, also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal
Due to injury, Smith missed USC's games against Oregon, Minnesota and No. 12 Maryland
SO Kennedy Smith posted the second double-double of her career and first of the season with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Northwestern. Smith also added five assists.
SO Kennedy Smith scored a season and career high 20 points against the Illini. The sophomore also posted a career-best six blocks and added seven rebounds. The six blocks were a season high for the Trojans.
Against Ohio State, Smith finished with 18 points (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3PT, 4-for-4 FT), three rebounds, four assists and a game-high three blocks
Smith was recognized for her defensive prowess on the 2025-26 Big Ten All-Defensive Team

KARA GETS IT DUNN

Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26. She has nine total 20+ point performances this season.
Against No. 24 Notre Dame, Dunn led USC in scoring with 21 points
Against Oregon, Dunn scored 21 points to lead USC in scoring. The senior also had nine rebounds and four assists. She was also perfect from the charity stripe, shooting 5-5 from the line
At Minnesota, Dunn dropped 27 points, making five three-pointers and contributing six steals and three assists
Against No. 13 Michigan State, Dunn recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three steals
Against No. 7 Michigan, Dunn had her first double-double of the season, posting 26 points, ten rebounds and three assists.
With her 25 point performance against No. 8 Iowa, senior Kara Dunn officially surpassed 1,500 career points. She notched her second double-double of the season against the Hawkeyes with 25 points and 12 rebounds. She also had five assists.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES

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.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
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.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 138 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 30 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.3 percent from the charity stripe
Jones led USC in scoring in the Big Ten tournament, recording 19 points against Washington.