If you walked into the Galen Center right now expecting to see JuJu Watkins dropping 50 points, you’d be met with a very quiet reality check. Honestly, the vibe around the usc game women's basketball scene has shifted dramatically in the last few months. It's not just about one superstar anymore. It's about survival in the most brutal conference in the country.
The Trojans are currently navigating a season that feels like a fever dream. After a 2024-25 campaign that saw them reach the Elite Eight and capture the nation's attention, the 2025-26 season has been... well, complicated. People keep asking when things will "get back to normal," but in the Big Ten, there is no normal.
The Reality of the Current USC Game Women's Basketball Schedule
Let’s talk about what happened recently. On January 11, USC traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It was one of those games that makes you want to pull your hair out if you're a Trojans fan. USC was ranked No. 21 at the time, and they lost by a single point—63-62.
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That loss wasn't an isolated incident. It came on the heels of a tough stretch where the team fell to Oregon and got absolutely dismantled by their crosstown rivals, No. 4 UCLA, with a 80-46 scoreline that still stings.
The schedule doesn't get any easier. Tonight, January 15, the Trojans are back at the Galen Center to host No. 12 Maryland. If you're looking for a "get right" game, this isn't it. The Terrapins are physical, they transition faster than almost anyone in the Big Ten, and they smell blood in the water.
Why the "JuJu Factor" Changed Everything
The biggest misconception about the current usc game women's basketball situation is that the team is just "slumping." It’s deeper than that. JuJu Watkins, the phenom who shattered freshman scoring records and basically carried the program on her back, is sitting out the 2025-26 season.
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She's recovering from a torn ACL sustained in March 2025.
You can't just replace 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game with a pep talk. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb is essentially reinventing the wheel in real-time. Without JuJu, the gravity on the court has shifted. Defenders don't have to double-team the perimeter the same way, which means the lanes are clogged and the shooting percentages are dipping.
The Rise of Jazzy Davidson and the New Guard
While the star power might feel diminished to the casual observer, true hoop heads are watching Jazzy Davidson. The freshman guard from Clackamas has been a bright spot in a cloudy season. She was recently named to the John R. Wooden Award Top 25 Midseason Watch List, which is a massive deal for a first-year player.
She's 6'1", fluid, and has a high basketball IQ. But she’s being asked to grow up fast.
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Then you've got the veterans like Londynn Jones and Kara Dunn trying to hold the locker room together. They're playing a style of basketball that is much more egalitarian. It’s "move the ball, find the extra pass, hope the three falls." Sometimes it works—like the 74-66 win over Nebraska in late December. Sometimes it results in a 46-point outing against the Bruins.
The Big Ten Meat Grinder
Transitioning from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten was always going to be a shock to the system. But doing it without your generational talent? That’s playing the game on "Legendary" difficulty.
Look at the standings:
- UCLA is sitting at the top, looking like a national title contender.
- Ohio State and Michigan State are racking up wins.
- USC is currently floating in the middle-to-bottom tier of the conference rankings.
The physicality is different. In the Pac-12, games were often track meets. In the Big Ten, every usc game women's basketball appearance feels like a wrestling match. Referees allow more contact in the paint, and the travel schedule—flying to places like East Lansing and Ann Arbor in the dead of winter—is a logistical nightmare that wears on a team’s legs.
What to Watch for in the Coming Weeks
If you're heading to a game or tuning in on the Big Ten Network, don't look at the scoreboard first. Look at the defensive rotations. USC’s path to the NCAA Tournament this year isn't going to be paved with high-scoring highlights. It’s going to be about whether they can hold teams under 60 points.
They have games coming up against Purdue (Jan 18) and Michigan State (Jan 22). These are pivotal. If they can split these, they stay in the conversation for a middle-seed in the tournament. If they drop both, they’re looking at a very nervous Selection Sunday.
Essentially, the "new" USC identity is still under construction. Gottlieb is a brilliant tactical mind, but even the best chefs need ingredients. Right now, she’s working with a young core that is learning how to lead without a safety net.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Monitor the Injury Report: Beyond JuJu, keep an eye on the minor dings to players like Kennedy Smith. In a thin rotation, one twisted ankle changes the entire betting line.
- Home Court Advantage is Real: Despite the loss to UCLA, the Galen Center remains a tough place to play. USC typically shoots about 5-8% better at home than on the road this season.
- Watch the First Quarter: USC has struggled with slow starts. If they are within 4 points at the end of the first quarter, they usually have the stamina to keep it close until the final buzzer.
- The "Davidson" Over: Jazzy Davidson’s scoring prop is often undervalued because she’s a freshman. She’s becoming the primary option, and her volume is only going up.
The era of JuJu-mania is on pause, but the usc game women's basketball story is far from over. It’s just transitioned from a blockbuster movie into a gritty, indie drama about grit and reconstruction.
Keep an eye on the Maryland game tonight. It’ll tell us everything we need to know about whether this team has the stomach for a postseason run. Check the local listings for the 7:00 PM PST tip-off or head down to the Galen Center if you want to see the future of the program in person.