LOS ANGELES — When the final buzzer sounded at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, last March, Southern California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb sensed that everything was about to change.

Yes, the Trojans lost to Connecticut, ending their season just short of reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1986. But as her team headed into the locker room, Gottlieb realized they had set a new standard.

USC women’s basketball was back and poised to reclaim its status as a leading force in the sport.

“The expectations are high now, and we aspire to be among the top teams in the nation,” said Gottlieb.

The resurgence of USC has been remarkable as Gottlieb enters her fourth season. Her first two years saw progress, with the team’s record improving from 12-16 in her debut to 21-10, which earned them their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years in 2023.

However, few anticipated how successful the Trojans would be last season. Gottlieb secured the top high school talent in JuJu Watkins, yet USC was predicted to finish sixth in a competitive Pac-12. Instead, they ended up winning 29 games—their highest total since the 1985-86 season—claimed the Pac-12 Conference tournament title for the first time in a decade, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Watkins was central to this success. She set a school record for freshmen by scoring 32 points in her debut game with a shocking victory over Ohio State. She later broke the record again with 51 points against Stanford, recorded 14 games with at least 30 points, achieved a national freshman scoring record with 920 points, and averaged 27.1 points per game, ranking second in the nation behind Caitlin Clark.

JuJu Watkins meets her high expectations

Although it’s only been one season, Watkins has already started to live up to the high expectations set for her career.

“When I chose to commit, it was to help revive that winning legacy and excitement surrounding USC women’s basketball and basketball in LA as a whole,” said Watkins. “It has been really thrilling to see everything come together.”

After such an impressive season, it’s clear why Watkins is recognized as a preseason All-American, the Big Ten coaches’ 2024-25 preseason player of the year, and a frontrunner for the national player of the year.

Gottlieb humorously pointed out that her biggest challenge regarding Watkins is deciding what gift to get her for Christmas, as she has excelled in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) arena, featuring partnerships with Gatorade, AT&T, and reportedly extending a lucrative multi-year deal with Nike, among the richest in women’s basketball.

With all the attention and her undeniable talent, Watkins is a prime contender to become the sport’s biggest star following Clark’s transition to the WNBA.

“She’s certainly going to be one of the key figures in women’s college basketball this year,” said ESPN analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo. “There’s a lot of excitement surrounding women’s college basketball, and JuJu is definitely one of the players everyone is eager to watch.”

Watkins mentioned that during the offseason, she focused heavily on improving her left hand, and Gottlieb noted her growth as a vocal leader, managing to outsmart defenses.

Additionally, she is continuously refining her scoring abilities. During practice breaks, Watkins is often seen putting in extra work on her shot.

“At this point, nothing she does surprises me,” Gottlieb remarked about Watkins. “JuJu simplifies things for us because she prioritizes this team, the sport, and USC above her own individual goals.”

“She’s simply a 19-year-old who is dedicated to winning and helping me and our team pursue greatness.”

USC anticipates gains from an influx of talent

Apart from Watkins, only one starter, Rayah Marshall, is returning, but Gottlieb has significantly bolstered the roster. She added Kiki Iriafen, last season’s most improved Pac-12 player from Stanford, and Talia von Oelhoffen, a two-time all-Pac-12 team member from Oregon State, as part of one of the nation’s top transfer class. Gottlieb highlighted their importance as they not only possess veteran experience to support alongside Watkins but also come from winning teams.

On the high school recruiting Coach Gottlieb has recently added six recruits to ESPN’s top 100 list, featuring standout five-star athletes such as Kennedy Smith, Kayleigh Heckel, and Avery Howell. He aims to combine the energy of newcomers with the experience of veterans to create a winning team.

“We possess several talented players. I believe that adaptability will be crucial for us,” Gottlieb noted. “Our team is younger than most realize. I’m incorporating some freshmen into vital roles, yet we also have some impressive seasoned players.”

Players Iriafen and von Oelhoffen have developed a strong connection with Watkins. Iriafen commented that Watkins “surrounds herself with excellence,” noting that they constantly support each other on the court.

“There are so many talented players around me, so I’m also playing off their strengths,” she explained. “You can count on anyone to step up and score. We’re not just relying on two or three key players.”

A potential emerging star is Smith, who competed at Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga and played against Watkins in her high school days. She is now stepping into a role similar to that of her current teammate. Both Gottlieb and Watkins praised her potential, anticipating ample playing time for her. The term that often arises in conversations about her?

“Dawg,” Watkins expressed.

USC Ready for the ‘Target on Our Back’

Champion-level teams in various sports usually set goals to achieve titles by season’s end, yet they often choose to keep this ambition quiet, typically favoured by the “take it one game at a time” mentality.

However, this is not the case with the Trojans.

Everyone from the coaching staff to the players is aware of the aim to win the school’s first national championship since 1984, and they’re openly pursuing that goal.

“There’s a concrete urgency to surpass our achievements from last year,” Watkins stated.

USC kicks off the season ranked No. 3 in the YSL News Sports Coaches Poll, labelled the favourite to clinch the Big Ten title during their inaugural season in the league, secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA women’s tournament, and strive for a spot in the Final Four.

Fans will have ample opportunity to follow USC’s progress. The Trojans not only start their college basketball season in Paris against Mississippi in a game televised by ESPN, but more than half of their games will be broadcast nationwide. This comes in addition to numerous NIL deals the players have established.

With all eyes on Los Angeles, the Trojans gladly accept the challenge.

“Our platform has been raised for everyone involved. We’re not shying away from expectations. We’re fully aware that this entails a significant degree of responsibility,” Gottlieb remarked. “Every game is a major event, and we need to be prepared. There’s definitely a target on our backs.”