You’ve seen the headlines, but the reality on the ground at the Galen Center is a bit more complicated. Everyone expected the 2025-26 usc women's basketball schedule to be the "JuJu Watkins Revenge Tour" after last year’s Elite Eight heartbreak. Then came the bombshell news in late September. Watkins is out. She’s sidelined for the entire season, recovering from that brutal injury sustained in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Suddenly, the schedule looks different. It’s not just a list of games; it’s a gauntlet for a team trying to find its identity without a generational superstar. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb hasn't folded, though. Far from it. She went out and snagged Jazzy Davidson, the top recruit in the country, and brought in Londynn Jones from across town.
The schedule is a beast.
The Non-Conference Gauntlet: Surviving November and December
Honestly, the early stretch of the usc women's basketball schedule was designed to be a showcase for the best player in the world. Even without JuJu, the Trojans didn't back down from the "Real SC" matchup. Taking on Dawn Staley and South Carolina at Crypto.com Arena on November 15 was a statement. They lost 69-52, sure, but it showed that Kennedy Smith and this new-look roster aren't scared of the limelight.
Then there was the UConn game.
Geno Auriemma brought his Huskies to the Galen Center on December 13. It was supposed to be a rematch of the Elite Eight. Without Watkins, USC struggled to find consistent scoring, falling 79-51. But these are the games that matter for March. Gottlieb is basically using the first two months to see who can handle the pressure before the Big Ten schedule really kicks into high gear.
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Key Dates You Might Have Missed
If you're looking for the wins that kept the momentum alive, look at the Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic on December 21. USC edged out Cal 61-57 at the Chase Center. It wasn't pretty. It was gritty. That's the vibe of this season.
- November 9: Beat #9 NC State 69-68 (The season's biggest "we're still here" moment).
- December 7: Opened Big Ten play by suffocating Washington 59-50.
- December 29: Went into Lincoln and took down #20 Nebraska 74-66.
Big Ten Life: The New Normal in Los Angeles
The move to the Big Ten wasn't just about travel miles; it was about a change in style. The usc women's basketball schedule is now filled with teams like Iowa, Maryland, and Indiana—programs that don't care about your Hollywood pedigree.
January 2026 has been a reality check. After a tough 80-46 loss at UCLA on January 3, the Trojans have had to regroup fast. The schedule doesn't give you breathing room. On January 11, they dropped a heartbreaker to Minnesota 63-62.
You’ve got to wonder about the fatigue.
Flying to Minneapolis, then back to LA for Maryland and Purdue, then heading out to the Michigan schools? It’s a lot. But for fans, this is the most exciting the home slate has ever been. We’re seeing teams at the Galen Center that have literally never played here before.
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Watching the Games: Where to Tune In
Most people get frustrated trying to find the games. It’s a mess of streaming and cable. Basically, if it’s a big game, it’s on FOX or ESPN. If it’s a mid-week conference clash, you’re probably hunting for it on Peacock or Big Ten Plus (B1G+).
- January 15: Maryland at USC (6:00 PM PT on Peacock)
- January 29: Iowa at USC (6:00 PM PT on Peacock)
- February 12: Indiana at USC (7:00 PM PT on Big Ten Network)
- March 1: UCLA at USC (3:00 PM PT on FS1)
Can Jazzy Davidson Carry the Torch?
The biggest question mark on the usc women's basketball schedule isn't a team; it's a person. Jazzy Davidson came in with the "No. 1 Recruit" tag. That’s a heavy burden when the person you’re replacing is JuJu Watkins.
She’s been stellar, averaging nearly 20 points through the early stretch, but the Big Ten's physical defense is a different animal. When Indiana comes to town on February 12, or when they have to travel to Columbus to face Ohio State on February 22, we’ll see what she’s really made of.
The defense has been the surprise.
Without a 30-point-per-game scorer, Gottlieb has turned up the pressure. They’re holding opponents to low shooting percentages, which is the only reason they stayed competitive against teams like Washington and Nebraska.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning to follow the rest of the usc women's basketball schedule, don't just show up to the UCLA game on March 1. The real value is in the "inaugural" matchups. Seeing Maryland or Iowa at the Galen Center is a piece of history.
Tickets are surprisingly affordable if you buy early. Single-game seats start around $12, but for the big matchups like the regular-season finale against the Bruins, prices will spike or sell out entirely.
Check the TV listings 48 hours in advance. The Big Ten is notorious for shifting tip times for television windows, especially on the weekends.
The goal for this team is clear: stay above water in the conference standings, hope Jazzy Davidson hits her "freshman wall" and breaks through it by February, and secure a decent seed for the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis starting March 4.
It’s a different kind of season for the Women of Troy. It’s less about the individual brilliance of one star and more about the collective survival of a program that refused to let an injury define their year.
Next Steps for the Trojan Family
- Download the B1G+ App: Seriously, about 12 of the remaining games are only available there. If you don't have it, you'll miss the gritty road games.
- Focus on the February 12-19 Home Stand: Indiana and Wisconsin back-to-back at the Galen Center will likely decide if USC gets a double-bye in the conference tournament.
- Watch the Injury Reports: While JuJu is out, keeping the rest of the rotation healthy—especially Kennedy Smith—is the only way they survive the Michigan road trip in late January.