NFL
By: Kevin Lucas
Lindsay Gottlieb is headed into her sixth season leading the Women of Troy, and this year the stakes are higher because of the roster coach Gottlieb and her staff have assembled for the 2026-27 season. The Trojans enter the season with an abundance of talent that stretches all across the globe from Spain to Australia back to the United States. With Juju Watkins’ return on the horizon, the spotlight falls on this team as one of basketball’s youngest superstars prepares to reintroduce herself to the main stage. After just squeezing into the NCAA Tournament last season, USC completely revamped its roster to give itself great positional size and defensive versatility that will give opposing head coaches nightmares. Kennedy Smith enters her third year at USC, where she will be a key cog for this group as both a vocal leader and especially as a defensive mastermind. Smith’s willingness as a passer brings an important dimension to this squad for a team that has quality scoring options at all five spots. Jazzy Davidson is also back in the fold for her sophomore campaign, where she essentially did it all for USC a season ago as she led the team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
With added strength and confidence, expect Jazzy to have a major impact in all facets of the game yet again. Her defensive tenacity sets her apart, but it’s her competitive spirit that makes her one of the best players in the world. Sitaya Fagan is a name that most college basketball fans aren’t fully familiar with yet, but once the season kicks off, she will be a huge breakout star. The 6’4 Australian forward can legit play 1-5 if she wanted to. Fagan has a great combination of size, speed, shooting touch, and lateral quickness. Sara Okeke is the next international star for USC from Madrid that provides certain stability down low for Coach Gottlieb’s group. Okeke is a 6’4 center who plays with total control on the low block, as she can score over each shoulder with either hand. Her ability to track the ball and corral rebounds will be apparent for the Trojans on both ends of the floor. Defensively, she will anchor USC as she is elite at walling up and using her wingspan to her advantage, while she is also very comfortable guarding smaller guards out on the perimeter.
Also amongst this group is Saniyah Hall, the consensus no. 1 overall high school player in the class of 2026. The Ohio native is a 6’1 guard/forward who is wired to score from all three levels and has a triple-threat package. UC Davis transfer Ryann Bennett is the only true point guard on this roster, so expect her to carve out a nice role for herself as a table setter and as a reliable point-of-attack defender, picking up the ball 94 feet. The local Long Beach product also has a preexisting relationship with Kennedy Smith that spans back to their travel basketball days, which should translate quite nicely to USC and the Big Ten.
A season ago, rebounding was a major issue for the Trojans, but now, alongside Sara Okeke in the frontcourt, they will have trustworthy bodies in Florida State transfer Pania Davis as well as Laura Williams returning for her redshirt-sophomore season. The very last addition to this team is a Belarus import that goes by the name Alesia Talkouskaya. Alesia brings an added toughness and physicality to a group that should boast one of the best backcourts in the nation.
All in all, the 2026-2027 season is the most anticipated season for the Women of Troy in a very long time. With teams like South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Duke on the non-conference schedule, this team will be tested early and often. Lindsay Gottlieb has formed a team that has depth, height, selflessness, and pure grit alongside star power. It’s no better time than now for USC to get back to the Final Four and potentially cut down the nets when it’s all said and done.
