NFL
By: Kevin Lucas
Juju Watkins will be out for the season, but the standards that Lindsay Gottlieb has set at USC will not falter. Since arriving at USC back in the summer of 2021, coach Gottlieb and staff have done more than raised the standards; they’ve revitalized a historic program that was hungry to get back to its winning ways. As for this 2025-26 season, the Trojans will showcase a roster that’s high-IQ, disciplined, and has great defensive versatility. Kennedy Smith returns to SC for her sophomore season after a promising freshman year, where she instantly became one of the premier defensive players across the entire country. Smith’s role as a vocal leader and as a playmaker on the offensive end of the floor will have a profound effect on the Women of Troy this winter and spring. Jazzy Davidson joins this program as the No. 1 high school hooper in the class of 2025 after winning essentially every single award one can earn during a high school career. Davidson is a 6’1 left-handed guard who’s a complete player on both ends of the floor and plays with a fearlessness that will translate to the collegiate level quite nicely.
Her ability to create off the bounce and get into the lane will stand out, but it’s her lateral quickness and activity on defense that’ll captivate USC fans everywhere. Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn gives the Trojans a low-maintenance star who has a positive impact on every facet of the game. Last season, as a junior, Kara averaged 15.5 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 35 percent from 3-point range. Dunn is a major threat on or off the ball and can score from inside near the rim and is almost automatic from the corner 3. She plays the game with a calming presence that will be leaned upon heavily in situations where this team will need a bucket. Londynn Jones crosses town after spending 3 years at UCLA, where she played in over 100 games for the Bruins. Jones is known as a sniper from distance, but she should expand her offensive repertoire in her final college season.
Malia Samuels enters her third season in this program as a hard-nosed point guard from Seattle who guards 94 feet and makes sure everybody is in the right spots on offense. Samuels’ tenacity and court awareness make her an invaluable piece for coach Gottlieb’s squad this year. Along the perimeter, USC was able to add a dynamic scoring threat in Washington State transfer Dayana Mendes. The 6’2 forward from Paris adds good size and only strengthens the Trojans’ defensive capabilities. As for their frontcourt, USC has a plethora of bodies that they can throw at opponents for any given situation. The coaching staff tapped into the overseas market and was able to snag Gerda Raulušaityte from Lithuania. She brings with her a reliable low-post presence that can pass and forces mismatches with tough screens. Auburn transfer Yakiya Milton gifts USC a true rim protector that also guards well in space.
At 6’5, Milton does a great job of sprinting end-to-end and knows how to carve out space down low to make herself available at all times. Vivian Iwuchukwu and Laura Williams both begin their 2nd seasons at USC, where they will be called upon to rebound, defend, and make opposing guards rethink their decisions when entering the paint looking to score. USC may be getting overlooked for now, but that will change soon. Lindsay Gottlieb is one of the best coaches in the nation and knows how to maximize every group she has been a part of. This mix of young women has all of the pieces they need to compete in the Big Ten and in the NCAA Tournament. Do not count out USC.
