Trojans Women's Basketball Has to Clean up After Exhibition Win

LOS ANGELES — On Sunday afternoon, the USC Trojans Women's basketball squad took their unofficial first step forward in an open exhibition game at the Galen Center against the Cal Golden Bears. 

No one could have predicted the showdown that would ensue in those 40 minutes of game time. This is even more evident because those same Golden Bears previously fell to the Trojans' crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins, 78-58. 

From tipoff, the spectators at the Galen Center did not treat this simple preseason game as an exhibition; instead, it felt like something bigger was on the line. 

USC escaped with a 78-76 win over Cal, with true freshman Saniyah Hall leading the Women of Troy with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting attempts and six rebounds. 

Following the exhibition win against her alma mater, sixth-year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb admitted that, despite the outcome, there was plenty to clean up. 

"I'm really, really, really glad we did it," Gottlieb said postgame, on the importance of playing an exhibition at home against Cal. "There were some great things we did, and some things that didn't feel like the us that we've been practicing." 

Gottlieb noted that both the Golden Bears and Trojans will improve moving forward as a result of this game, with the 2026-27 season kicking off in less than a week. 

Alongside Gottlieb in the postgame presser were Hall and JuJu Watkins — who made her return to Galen Center after missing all of last year recovering from a torn ACL — and both Trojans reflected on their game and what needed to improve. 

"I think finding my feet is really important," Watkins said. "I think this game allowed me to experience that and feel what it feels like to be in a game atmosphere." 

Gottlieb confirmed that Watkins was on minutes restrictions, playing just 23 minutes, and was tied with sophomore Jazzy Davidson with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting. 

As Gottlieb mentioned, there is plenty to clean up as they were outrebounded 45-39, and the fouls later in the game gave the Golden Bears room to breathe and fight their way back. 

She also noted that the Trojans did not get out in transition enough — with that being a heavy emphasis in USC's game plan — despite the stat sheet noting that USC had 25 fast-break points. 

Even with all of that in mind, the No. 3 ranked Trojans are still viewed as a powerhouse in the Big Ten. With the No. 1 ranked recruiting class heading into the season, only time will mold Coach Gottlieb's most stacked roster in recent memory. 

USC opens up their season in the desert on Nov. 2 as they have a date with the UNLV Rebels at the T-Mobile Arena.