# 2024–25 USC Trojans women's basketball team

The 2024–25 USC Trojans women's basketball team represents the University of Southern California during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Trojans are led by fourth-year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, and play their home games at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. This marks the program's first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
USC enters their first season in the Big Ten ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll.

## Previous season

The Women of Troy finished the Pac-12 regular season tied for second with UCLA. USC held the tiebreaker over UCLA, earning then the 2-seed in the 2024 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament, where they won.
The squad earned their second straight bid for the NCAA women's basketball tournament, earning a No. 1 seed in the Portland region. They went on to beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the First Round, Kansas in the Second Round, and Baylor in the Sweet Sixteen, but lost to Connecticut in the Elite Eight.
They started the season ranked No. 21 and finished the season with a No. 5 AP ranking and a No. 6 ranking in the Coaches' poll.

### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Reason for Departure |
| Taylor Bigby | 1 | G | 6'1" | Jr | Las Vegas, NV | Transferred to TCU. |
| India Otto | 2 | G | 5'9" | GS | Los Angeles, CA | Joined staff as Coordinator of Player Engagement. Graduated. |
| Kayla Williams | 4 | G | 5'7" | Sr | Los Angeles, CA | Transferred to UC Berkeley. Graduated. |
| Kaitlyn Davis | 24 | G/F | 6'0" | GS | Norwalk, CT | Drafted in the 3rd Round (35th Overall) in the 2024 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. Graduated. |
| McKenzie Forbes | 25 | G | 6'0" | GS | Folsom, CA | Drafted in the 3rd Round (28th Overall) in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Graduated. |
| Roxane Makolo | 30 | G | 5'10" | GS | Quebec, CA | Transferred to Georgia. |
| Kayla Padilla | 45 | G | 5'9" | GS | Torrance, CA | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Num | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Kiki Iriafen | 44 | F | 6'3" | GS | Los Angeles, CA | Stanford |
| Talia von Oelhoffen | 55 | G | 5'11" | GS | Tri-Cities, WA | Oregon State |

### 2024 recruiting class

Source:
| Name | Overall Rank | Position | Hometown | High School | Height | ESPN Stars | ESPN Grade |
| Vivian Iwuchukwu | 47 | F | Imo State, Nigeria | Montverde Academy | 6'3" | 4 | 94 |
| Rian Forester | 53 | G | Helotes, TX | Brandeis | 5'11" | 4 | 94 |
| Laura Williams | 89 | F | Tampa, FL | St. Paul VI Catholic | 6'1" | 4 | 91 |
| Kayleigh Heckel | 28 | G | Port Chester, NY | Long Island Lutheran | 5'9" | 5 | 97 |
| Kennedy Smith | 6 | G | Chino, CA | Etiwanda | 6'1" | 5 | 98 |
| Avery Howell | 23 | G | Boise, ID | Boise | 6'0" | 5 | 97 |
| Brooklyn Shamblin | | G | Carpinteria, CA | Oaks Christian | 5'9" | 3 | |

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site city, state |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 4, 2024* 9:00 a.m., ESPN | No. 3 | vs. No. 20 Ole Miss Aflac Oui-Play Game | W 68–66 | 1–0 | 27 – Watkins | 13 – Iriafen | 4 – Watkins | Adidas Arena Paris, France |
| November 9, 2024* 2:00 p.m., B1G+ | No. 3 | Cal Poly | W 90–35 | 2–0 | 16 – Watkins | 7 – Tied | 7 – von Oelhoffen | Galen Center (5,215) Los Angeles, California |
| November 12, 2024* 7:00 p.m., B1G+ | No. 3 | Cal State Northridge | W 124–39 | 3–0 | 21 – Watkins | 9 – Marshall | 9 – Watkins | Galen Center (3,064) Los Angeles, California |
| November 15, 2024* 12:00 p.m., B1G+ | No. 3 | Santa Clara | W 81–50 | 4–0 | 22 – Watkins | 7 – Iriafen | 6 – Von Oelhoffen | Galen Center (3,594) Los Angeles, California |
| November 23, 2024* 1:00 p.m., NBC | No. 3 | No. 6 Notre Dame | L 61–74 | 4–1 | 15 – Iriafen | 9 – Tied | 5 – Watkins | Galen Center (7,894) Los Angeles, California |
| November 27, 2024* 4:00 p.m., TruTV | No. 6 | vs. Seton Hall Acrisure Holiday Invitational | W 84–51 | 5–1 | 20 – Watkins | 11 – Marshall | 6 – Marshall | Acrisure Arena Palm Springs, California |
| November 29, 2024* 4:00 p.m., TruTV | No. 6 | vs. Saint Louis Acrisure Holiday Invitational | W 104–65 | 6–1 | 34 – Watkins | 12 – Iriafen | 4 – Tied | Acrisure Arena (2,725) Palm Springs, California |
| December 3, 2024* 6:30 p.m., BTN | No. 6 | California Baptist | W 94–52 | 7–1 | 40 – Watkins | 10 – Tied | 6 – von Oelhoffen | Galen Center (2,489) Los Angeles, California |
| December 7, 2024 1:00 p.m., BTN | No. 6 | at Oregon | W 66–53 | 8–1 (1–0) | 21 – Watkins | 12 – Iriafen | 4 – Tied | Matthew Knight Arena (7,246) Eugene, Oregon |
| December 10, 2024* 6:00 p.m., BTN | No. 5 | Fresno State | W 89–40 | 9–1 | 24 – Iriafen | 13 – Marshall | 5 – Watkins | Galen Center (3,081) Los Angeles, California |
| December 15, 2024* 12:00 p.m., B1G+ | No. 5 | Elon | W 88–30 | 10–1 | 26 – Watkins | 14 – Marshall | 5 – Watkins | Galen Center (4,818) Los Angeles, California |
| December 21, 2024* 5:00 p.m., FOX | No. 7 | at No. 4 UConn | W 72–70 | 11–1 | 25 – Watkins | 11 – Iriafen | 6 – Iriafen | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| December 29, 2024 7:00 p.m., BTN | No. 4 | No. 23 Michigan | W 78–58 | 12–1 (2–0) | 31 – Watkins | 9 – Iriafen | 7 – Watkins | Galen Center (8,043) Los Angeles, California |
| January 1, 2025 12:00 p.m., BTN | No. 4 | Nebraska | W 75–55 | 13–1 (3–0) | 26 – Watkins | 9 – Marshall | 4 – Watkins | Galen Center (5,662) Los Angeles, California |
| January 5, 2025 5:00 p.m., BTN | No. 4 | at Rutgers | W 92–42 | 14–1 (4–0) | 23 – Watkins | 14 – Watkins | 6 – von Oelhoffen | Jersey Mike's Arena (7,356) Piscataway, New Jersey |
| January 8, 2025 5:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | at No. 8 Maryland | W 79–74 | 15–1 (5–0) | 21 – Tied | 15 – Marshall | 4 – Heckel | XFINITY Center (14,735) College Park, Maryland |
| January 12, 2025 5:00 p.m., BTN | No. 4 | Penn State | W 95–73 | 16–1 (6–0) | 35 – Watkins | 11 – Watkins | 4 – Tied | Galen Center (5,881) Los Angeles, California |
| January 15, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock | No. 4 | Northwestern | W | 16–1 (7–0) | – | – | – | Galen Center Los Angeles, California |
| January 19, 2025 9:00 a.m., NBC | No. 4 | at Indiana | W 73–66 | 17–1 (8–0) | 22 – Watkins | 10 – Marshall | 5 – Smith | Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (12,534) Bloomington, Indiana |
| January 22, 2025 4:00 p.m., Peacock | No. 4 | at Purdue | W 79–37 | 18–1 (9–0) | 18 – Howell | 13 – Marshall | 6 – von Oelhoffen | Mackey Arena (7,543) West Lafayette, Indiana |
| January 30, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock | No. 4 | Minnesota | W 82–69 | 19–1 (10–0) | 23 – Iriafen | 11 – Tied | 6 – von Oelhoffen | Galen Center (5,243) Los Angeles, California |
| February 2, 2025 10:30 a.m., FOX | No. 4 | at Iowa | L 69–76 | 19–2 (10–1) | 27 – Watkins | 8 – Iriafen | 3 – Watkins | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (14,998) Iowa City, Iowa |
| February 5, 2025 4:30 p.m., Peacock | No. 7 | at Wisconsin | W 86–64 | 20–2 (11–1) | 15 – Iriafen | 7 – Marshall | 5 – Heckel | Kohl Center (6,285) Madison, Wisconsin |
| February 8, 2025 6:00 p.m., FOX | No. 7 | No. 8 Ohio State | W 84–63 | 21–2 (12–1) | 24 – Iriafen | 13 – Tied | 5 – Smith | Galen Center (8,892) Los Angeles, California |
| February 13, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock | No. 6 | No. 1 UCLA Rivalry | W 71–60 | 22–2 (13–1) | 38 – Watkins | 11 – Watkins | 5 – Watkins | Galen Center (10,258) Los Angeles, California |
| February 16, 2025 4:00 p.m., BTN | No. 6 | at Washington | W 69–64 | 23–2 (14–1) | 19 – Iriafen | 8 – Watkins | 6 – Watkins | Alaska Airlines Arena (7,913) Seattle, Washington |
| February 19, 2025 6:30 p.m., Peacock | No. 4 | No. 22 Michigan State | W 83–75 | 24–2 (15–1) | 28 – Watkins | 12 – Marshall | 3 – Tied | Galen Center (5,823) Los Angeles, California |
| February 23, 2025 1:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | No. 25 Illinois Senior Day | W 76–66 | 25–2 (16–1) | 22 – Tied | 13 – Marshall | 5 – Marshall | Galen Center (9,021) Los Angeles, California |
| March 1, 2025 6:00 p.m., FOX | No. 4 | at No. 2 UCLA Rivalry | W 80–67 | 26–2 (17–1) | 30 – Watkins | 9 – Iriafen | 5 – Tied | Pauley Pavilion (13,659) Los Angeles, California |
| Big Ten Women's Tournament |||||||||
| March 7, 2025 9:00 a.m., BTN | (1) No. 2 | vs. (9) Indiana Quarterfinals | W 84–79 | 27–2 | 31 – Watkins | 10 – Tied | 5 – von Oelhoffen | Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana |
| March 8, 2025 12:00 p.m., BTN | (1) No. 2 | vs. (5) Michigan Semifinals | W 82–70 | 28–2 | 25 – Iriafen | 12 – Watkins | 5 – von Oelhoffen | Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana |
| March 9, 2025 1:30 p.m., CBS | (1) No. 2 | vs. (2) No. 4 UCLA Championship Game/Rivalry | L 67–72 | 28–3 | 29 – Watkins | 8 – Smith | 4 – Smith | Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 22, 2025* TBD | (1 R4) No. 4 | (16 R4) UNC Greensboro First Round | | | | | | Galen Center Los Angeles, California |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific Time. |||||||||
Source: USCTrojans.com

## Game summaries

This section will be filled in as the season progresses.
Source:

### No. 20 Ole Miss (Aflac Oui-Play Game)

* ESPN
* November 4th, 2024 9:00 a.m. PST
* Recap
No. 20 Ole Miss Rebles 66, No. 3 USC Trojans 68 :
| Scoring by quarter: 16-15, 10-22, 19-15, 21-16 |||
| Pts: Deans Kristen - 19 Rebs: Tied - 9 Asts: Madison Scott - 5 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 27 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 13 Asts: Juju Watkins - 4 |
* Adidas Arena • Paris, France Referees: Infini Robinson, Tiffany Bird, Joe Vaszily

### vs. Cal Poly

* B1G+
* November 9th, 2024 2:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Cal Poly Mustangs 35, No. 3 USC Trojans 90 :
| Scoring by quarter: 6-40, 11-17, 10-16, 8-17 |||
| Pts: Sydney Bourland - 12 Rebs: Sydney Bourland - 6 Asts: Alana Goosby - 3 | Pts: Tied - 16 Rebs: Tied - 7 Asts: Talia von Oelhoffen - 7 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 5,215 Referees: Jamie Broderick, Lisa Jones, Michael McConnell

### vs. Cal State Northridge

* BTN+
* November 12th, 2024 7:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Cal State Northridge Matadors 39, No. 3 USC Trojans 124 :
| Scoring by quarter: 6-30, 7-30, 7-37, 19-27 |||
| Pts: Laini Dahlin - 11 Rebs: Erika Aspajo - 4 Asts: Erika Aspajo - 4 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 21 Rebs: Rayaj Marshall - 9 Asts: JuJu Watkins - 9 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 3,064 Referees: Kim Hobbs, Michael Price, Melissa Barlow

### vs. Santa Clara

* BTN+
* November 15th, 2024 12:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Santa Clara Broncos 50, No. 3 USC Trojans 81 :
| Scoring by quarter: 13-25, 13-14, 12-22, 12-20 |||
| Pts: Kaya Ingram - 13 Rebs: Hannah Rapp - 8 Asts: Madison Naro - 3 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 22 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 7 Asts: Talia von Oelhoffen - 6 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 3,594 Referees: In'Fini Robinson, Kyle Bacon, Roy Gulbeyan

### vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

* NBC
* November 23rd, 2024 1:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 74, No. 3 USC Trojans 61 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20-10, 15-18, 17-17, 22-16 |||
| Pts: Hannah Hidalgo - 24 Rebs: Liatu King - 11 Asts: Hannah Hidalgo - 8 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 24 Rebs: Tied - 9 Asts: JuJu Watkins - 5 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 7,894 Referees: Chuck Gonzalez, Mai Forsberg, Branda Pantoja

### Seton Hall (Acrisure Holiday Invitational)

* TruTV
* November 27th, 2024 4:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Seton Hall Pirates 51, No. 6 USC Trojans 84 :
| Scoring by quarter: 13-27, 13-15, 16-20, 9-20 |||
| Pts: Faith Masonius - 25 Rebs: Ja'Kahla Craft - 7 Asts: Amari Wright - 5 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 20 Rebs: Rayah Marshall - 11 Asts: Rayah Marshall - 6 |
* Acrisure Arena • Palm Springs, California Referees: Chaka Wade, Deon Lewis, Robert Scofield

### Saint Louis (Acrisure Holiday Invitational)

* TruTV
* November 29th, 2024 4:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Saint Louis Billikens 65, No. 6 USC Trojans 104 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15-24, 22-18, 8-37, 20-25 |||
| Pts: Mia Bergstrom - 19 Rebs: Tierra Simon - 11 Asts: Tied - 3 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 34 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 12 Asts: Tied - 4 |
* Acrisure Arena • Palm Springs, California Attendance: 2,725 Referees: Chaka Wade, Deon Lewis, Robert Scofield

### vs. California Baptist

* BTN
* December 3rd, 2024 6:30 p.m. PST
* Recap
California Baptist Lancers 52, No. 6 USC Trojans 94 :
| Scoring by quarter: 11-29, 9-21, 16-28, 16-16 |||
| Pts: Grace Schmidt - 12 Rebs: Grace Schmidt - 7 Asts: Claudia Fiel - 3 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 40 Rebs: Tied - 10 Asts: Talia von Oelhoffen - 6 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 2,489 Referees: Sydney Mott, Nadi Carey, Nykesha Thompson

### at. Oregon

* BTN
* December 7th, 2024 1:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
No. 6 USC Trojans 66, Oregon Ducks 53 :
| Scoring by quarter: 12-13, 28-6, 15-22, 11-12 |||
| Pts: JuJu Watkins - 21 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 12 Asts: Tied - 4 | Pts: Deja Kelly - 16 Rebs: Phillipina Kyei - 7 Asts: Tied - 2 |
* Matthew Knight Arena • Eugene, Oregon Attendance: 7,246 Referees: Chuck Gonzalez, Michol Murray, Lisa Jones

### vs. Fresno State

* BTN
* December 10th, 2024 6:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Fresno State Bulldogs 40, No. 5 USC Trojans 89 :
| Scoring by quarter: 12-22, 8-24, 6-24, 14-19 |||
| Pts: Tied - 11 Rebs: Tied - 4 Asts: Tied - 3 | Pts: Kiki Iriafen - 24 Rebs: Rayah Marshall - 13 Asts: JuJu Watkins = 5 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 3,081 Referees: Brian Woods, Nicole Leon, Roy Gulbeyan

### vs. Elon

* BTN+
* December 15th, 2024 12:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Elon Phoenix 30, No. 5 USC Trojans' 88 :
| Scoring by quarter: 6-23, 6-17, 11-29, 7-19 |||
| Pts: Hannah Dereje - 10 Rebs: Hannah Dereje - 7 Asts: Maraja Pass - 4 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 26 Rebs: Rayah Marshall - 14 Asts: JuJu Watkins - 5 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 4,818 Referees: Genesis Perrymound, Cameron Inouye, Michael Price

### at. No. 4 UConn

* FOX
* December 21st, 2024 5:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
No. 7 USC Trojans 72, No. 4 UConn Huskies 70 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24-15, 18-14, 13-20, 17-21 |||
| Pts: JuJu Watkins - 25 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 11 Asts: Kiki Iriafen - 6 | Pts: Tied - 22 Rebs: Sara Strong - 13 Asts: Sara Strong - 5 |
* XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut Attendance: 15,684 Referees: Jeffrey Smith, Katie Lukanich, Karen Preato

### vs. No. 23 Michigan

* BTN
* December 29th, 2024 7:00 p.m. PST
* Report
No. 23 Michigan Wolverines 58, No. 4 USC Trojans 78 :
| Scoring by quarter: 11-17, 20-17, 16-23, 11-21 |||
| Pts: Jordan Hobbs - 19 Rebs: Brooke Daniels - 7 Asts: Mila Holloway - 5 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 31 Rebs: Kiki Iriafen - 9 Asts: JuJu Watkins - 7 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 8,043 Referees: Nicole Leon, Doug Knight, Michol Murray

### vs. Nebraska

* BTN
* January 1st, 2025 12:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Nebraska Cornhuskers 55, No. 4 USC Trojans 75 :
| Scoring by quarter: 12-16, 22-23, 11-20, 10-16 |||
| Pts: Logan Nissley - 14 Rebs: Alexis Markowski - 9 Asts: Britt Prince - 4 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 26 Rebs: Rayah Marshall - 9 Asts: JuJu Watkins - 4 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 5,662 Referees: Kim Hobbs, In'Fini Robinson, Michael Price

### at. Rutgers

* BTN
* January 5th, 2025 5:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
No. 4 USC Trojans 92, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22-8, 15-6, 32-10, 23-18 |||
| Pts: JuJu Watkins - 23 Rebs: JuJu Watkins - 14 Asts: Talia von Oelhoffen - 6 | Pts: JoJo Lacey - 14 Rebs: Destiny Adams - 10 Asts: Destiny Adams - 3 |
* Jersey Mike's Arena • Piscataway, New Jersey Attendance: 7,356 Referees: Ken Nash, Angie Enlund, Julie Krommenhoek

### at. No. 8 Maryland

* FS1
* January 8th, 2025 5:30 p.m. PST
* Recap
No. 4 USC Trojans 79, No. 8 Maryland Terrapins 74 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18-20, 17-14, 23-24, 21-16 |||
| Pts: Tied - 21 Rebs: Rayah Marshall - 15 Asts: Kayleigh Heckel - 4 | Pts: Shyanne Sellers - 26 Rebs: Saylor Poffenbarger - 17 Asts: Tied - 2 |
* XFINTIY Center • College Park, Maryland Attendance: 14,735 Referees: Natasha Camy, Michol Murray, Michael McConnell

### vs. Penn State

* BTN
* January 12th, 2025 5:00 p.m. PST
* Recap
Penn State Lady Lions 73, No. 4 USC Trojans 95 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18-27, 13-29, 21-20, 21-19 |||
| Pts: Talayah Walker - 18 Rebs: Grace Hall - 9 Asts: Tied - 4 | Pts: JuJu Watkins - 35 Rebs: JuJu Watkins - 11 Asts: Tied - 4 |
* Galen Center • Los Angeles, California Attendance: 5,881 Referees: Cameron Inouye, Brenda Pantoja, Felicia Grinter

### vs. Northwestern

* Postponed due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles and Ventura County.

### at. Indiana

* NBC
* January 19th, 2025 9:00 a.m. PST
* Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Indiana

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 3 (1) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 (1) | 2 (6) | 4 | 4 | |
| Coaches | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 (1) | 2 (1) | 4 | 4 | |