UConn Women’s Basketball Faces No. 16 USC in Los Angeles Showdown

The UConn Huskies and USC Trojans women’s basketball teams are gearing up to face off again this Saturday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. This matchup has quickly turned into a can’t-miss event, pitting the top-ranked UConn squad against No. 16 USC.

They haven’t met all that often in the past, but recent games have really cranked up the tension. Fans and analysts are buzzing about this one.

The Rise of a New Rivalry

Before the 2023-24 season, UConn and USC had only played twice, with the Huskies winning both in 2002 and 2003. Lately, though, things have gotten heated thanks to some high-stakes showdowns.

UConn knocked USC out of the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight two years running, even when they weren’t the favorites. Then, last December, USC finally beat UConn in Hartford for the first time, which only spiced things up more.

Key Players and Their Impact

This year, USC will be without superstar JuJu Watkins. She’s a two-time first-team All-American and the 2025 Naismith Trophy winner, but an ACL tear in the tournament’s second round has sidelined her for the 2025-26 season.

Still, the Trojans have found new energy in freshman guard Jazzy Davidson. The No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class has stepped up, putting up 16.7 points, seven rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game.

Davidson’s best game so far? She dropped 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over No. 20 Washington. She’s had a few rough patches, though, especially in some of the bigger games.

UConn’s Star Power

On the UConn side, Azzi Fudd is on fire. She’s averaging 18.2 points and shooting an eye-popping 49.6% from the field, 53.4% from deep, and a perfect 100% from the line.

Fudd missed most of last year’s loss to USC because of a knee sprain, so her return could really swing things in UConn’s favor.

Transfers and Team Dynamics

There’s also some drama with UConn guard Kayleigh Heckel, who transferred from USC after her freshman year. She averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the Trojans, and now she’s heading back to the Galen Center for the first time since switching teams.

Her old teammate Avery Howell got a pretty cold welcome when she came back with Washington last week. Heckel figures she’ll get the same treatment.

Coach Geno Auriemma is trying to keep Heckel focused and not let the emotions get to her. He’s taking a pretty relaxed approach, maybe hoping to take some of the pressure off.

Game Day Details

The UConn vs. USC game tips off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. You can watch live on FOX or stream it on the FOX Sports app.

If you’re more of a radio person, tune in to the UConn Sports Network on FOX Sports 97.9.

Series Record and Recent Encounters

UConn leads the all-time series against USC 4-1. The last time these teams met was March 31 in Spokane, Washington, where UConn won 78-64.

This will be the fourth time they’ve played in the past two years. Not bad for a rivalry that’s just getting started.

Looking Ahead

There aren’t any official plans to keep the home-and-home series going after this season. Still, it’s pretty likely these teams will bump into each other again in future NCAA Tournaments.

Coach Auriemma points out how strong USC’s recruiting has been lately. He knows they bring a ton of talent, and honestly, every matchup feels like a real event.

Want more details about the upcoming game or curious about the UConn-USC rivalry? Check out the Hartford Courant for a deeper dive.