Trojans Women's Basketball Listed as Winners of Offseason

The 2026-27 Women's College Basketball season is just days away, and the USC Trojans Women's Basketball squad is full steam ahead in its pursuit of a championship. 

USC completed its slew of exhibition games, capping off play with an open exhibition against the Cal Golden Bears at the Galen Center — the first open exhibition at the Galen Center since 2022 in their game against Cal State Los Angeles. 

Heading into that contest, many eyes were on JuJu Watkins as she made her long-awaited return to Cardinal and Gold. 

It had been a 19-month layoff for the Naismith Player of the Year as she elected to miss the entire 2025-26 season to solely focus on recovering from a torn ACL she suffered during the NCAA Tournament earlier that year. 

She made her return to practice in the summer and eventually found herself back in the starting lineup against the Golden Bears just a few months later. 

According to CBS Sports — with the return of Watkins and the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026 — the Trojans find themselves as winners of the offseason. 

Watkins return is huge in itself, but her emergence paired with sophomore Jazzy Davidson can call for the most dangerous one-two punch in all of women's college basketball. 

Davidson led the Women of Troy in all offensive categories in her true freshman campaign. In 34.5 minutes per game, Davidson averaged 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 2 blocks, and 4.1 assists in all 32 games played. 

Her efforts landed her with the 2025-26 National Freshman of the Year title. 

That streak of productive young blood continues into the 2026-27 season, as head coach Lindsay Gottlieb recruited Saniyah Hall (No. 1 ranked high school player according to ESPN). 

Hall made her Trojans debut against Cal in that open exhibition game and led the Women of Troy in scoring with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and nabbing six rebounds with five steals in the 78-76 win. 

Following the win, Gottlieb was encouraged with the newly established lineup, but noted that they could improve playing off transition and the late foul calls. 

Nonetheless, the No. 3 ranked Women of Troy have everyone's attention as they kick off their season on Nov. 2 against the University of Las Vegas Rebels at the T-Mobile Arena. 

USC has their home opener later on that week on Nov. 8 against the Utah State Aggies.