In an exciting twist for the Big Ten conference, UCLA and USC have emerged as powerhouses in the women’s basketball standings this season. These two storied institutions from the West Coast will face off on Saturday at a fully packed Pauley Pavilion in a high-stakes encounter that will determine the regular season champion of their new league.
UCLA’s coach, Cori Close, expressed her enthusiasm about the growth of women’s basketball in Los Angeles, stating, “That gets me very excited about where we’ve brought the entire game. Little kids, this is going to be all they know – that the best college women’s basketball is being played through LA.” Her counterpart at USC, Lindsay Gottlieb, simply said, “We love it.”
The Bruins, boasting a record of 27-1 overall and 16-1 in the Big Ten, have suffered three consecutive defeats against the Trojans, including a 71-60 loss at Galen Center. This loss two weeks ago ended their 23-game winning streak and demoted the team from its No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 rankings.
Senior player for UCLA, Lauren Betts, is eager for redemption, stating, “I’m excited for our team to redeem ourselves. I think we learned a lot from the last time we played them. We’ve gotten so much better.” The Trojans, with a 25-2 overall record and matching the Bruins at 16-1 in the conference, have been formidable this season, with a 4-1 record against Top 10 teams and a perfect 2-0 on the road against such opponents.
Both schools received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA selection committee’s recent women’s tournament projection, showcasing their robust performance this season. The fierce rivalry has intensified following their last meeting on February 13th, which left UCLA fueled by frustration.
Coach Close reflected on their previous loss, commenting, “I honestly think we needed to be punched in the gut. We hadn’t had enough adversity to force us to go to different levels.” USC’s star player, JuJu Watkins, was instrumental in that victory, breaking out of a shooting slump with an impressive 38 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high eight blocked shots.
As they prepare for the rematch, Watkins emphasizes the importance of adaptability, saying, “You never know what the defense is going to throw at you and it’s just a matter of adjusting as quickly as possible. Staying present is the biggest thing, and then knowing what we’re made of and playing our best.”
The Bruins are looking to maintain their perfect home record this season as they stand 13-0 at Pauley Pavilion, with sights set on entering postseason play with momentum. “I don’t think there’s any pressure on us this game,” said Betts. “We just want to attack and we just want to dominate, and that has nothing to do with rankings or how many games we’ve won.”
USC’s only blemishes this season were a defeat to then-ranked sixth Notre Dame and a loss at Iowa. JuJu Watkins is determined to deliver another standout performance, particularly for USC seniors Rayah Marshall and Clarice Akunwafo, whose defensive efforts were key in disrupting UCLA’s offense in their last clash.
“The main thing is to go out there with enough hunger and tenacity that nothing can stop us,” Watkins declared.
As Coach Close marks her 14th season championing UCLA’s women’s program, she aims to fortify its legacy alongside their men’s program, known for its legendary 11 national championships. Meanwhile, Coach Gottlieb is steering USC towards reclaiming its former glory days of the early 1980s in her fourth year.
“It’s an incredible spot to be in, to be in a championship game on the last day of the regular season and to be able to control our own destiny,” Gottlieb remarked. “It’s at our fingertips.”
