For Southern California, the 2025-26 season was both a step forward and a reminder of how far there is still to go.
An 18-14 record and second round NCAA Tournament appearance marked tangible progress for a program navigating a transition year without star junior guard JuJu Watkins. But the way the season ended — a 40-point loss to South Carolina — underscored the gap between a good team and a championship-caliber one.
Still, USC’s season will be remembered less for how it ended and more for who emerged.
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson didn’t just meet expectations. She rewrote them.
Davidson led USC in every major statistical category, averaging 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while adding 64 steals and 63 blocks — a rare two-way dominance that made her the only Division I player, men’s or women’s, to average at least two steals and two blocks per game. She scored in double figures in 30 of 32 games played and delivered one of the most impressive NCAA Tournament debuts in recent memory, posting 31 points, six rebounds and five assists against Clemson.
Her historic production earned her National Freshman of the Year honors from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and The Athletic, placing her alongside names like Maya Moore, Candace Parker and JuJu Watkins in the record books.
“I’ve grown so much,” said Davidson after the Round of 32 loss. “Not only as a player, but as a human being. I’m excited to come back next season.”
Around her, USC found pieces, but not consistent production.
Senior guard Kara Dunn provided efficient scoring with 15.2 points per game on 47.5% shooting and perimeter punch with 71 made threes, while sophomore guard Kennedy Smith added 11.5 points per game and steady two-way play. Senior guard Londynn Jones emerged as a key contributor, averaging 10.5 points and shooting 84.4% from the free-throw line, often providing instant offense.
As a team, USC was solid but not dominant. The Trojans averaged 69.7 points per game, had a +5.5 scoring margin and a defense that forced 17.1 turnovers per game. They protected the ball relatively well with a +2.5 turnover margin and shared it effectively with 16.2 assists per game. One of their biggest struggles came on the glass with a -0.7 rebounding margin, lacking the physical presence of elite teams.
That inconsistency showed up in stretches.
USC opened the season 11-3 with wins over then-No. 9 NC State and No. 21 Washington, but struggled in marquee matchups, including losses to No. 2 South Carolina, No. 24 Notre Dame and No. 1 UConn. Conference play brought more volatility, with the Trojans finishing 9-9 and alternating strong wins, like victories over No. 8 Iowa and No. 20 Nebraska, with close losses and missed opportunities.
Even late in the season, the pattern held. No. 9 seed USC showed resilience with an NCAA Tournament win over No. 8 seed Clemson, but couldn’t sustain it two days later against top-seeded South Carolina’s size, depth and defensive pressure.
The result was a season defined by contrast: explosive guard play, but interior limitations; high-end potential, but uneven execution.
And yet, the foundation is unmistakably stronger than it was a year ago.
After the loss to South Carolina, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb called the season a step in the right direction.
“I wouldn’t even call this a setback,” Gottlieb said. “I would call this a part of the journey to get where we’re trying to be. I think our time will come, but not without work. Not just because we show up next year. It’s going to take a lot of work by a lot of people, but we know where we want to be. We’ve seen it.”
Besides, help is on the way. USC’s 2026 No. 1 recruiting class brings immediate upside, headlined by five-star forward Saniyah Hall, the top-ranked player in the country and a potential day-one impact scorer. She’s joined by Spanish four-star center Sara Okeke, who adds much-needed size and interior presence, and Australian forward Sitaya Fagan, the No. 1-ranked international prospect, giving USC another high-impact piece with global pedigree. Fagan graduated high school in December and has already started training with the team.
With Davidson’s rapid rise, Watkins’ return for a full season and a highly touted recruiting class incoming, USC is no longer building from the ground up; it’s building toward something. On top of it all, the Trojans will look to topple crosstown rival and 2026 NCAA champion UCLA after losing to the Bruins twice this season.
“There’s a gap between [us and] the elite and that, kind of, was us last year,” Gottlieb said. “That’s what our standard is now and that’s where we want to be.”
Not every Trojan is buying into the next season. Multiple players have jumped to the transfer portal, including junior guard Malia Samuels, sophomore forward Vivian Iwuchukwu, sophomore guard/forward Dayana Mendes and junior forwards Yakiya Milton and Gerda Raulušaityte. In fact, 39 of the top 100 recruits from last season have entered the transfer portal across women’s basketball, suggesting a continued larger issue with the portal.
The Trojans currently have seven returners alongside the three high school recruits. Four of the returners are starters.
“When you have a lot of returning players, you have to focus on improvement,” Gottlieb said. “You’re always continually working on culture and what it takes to win.”
The 2025-26 season didn’t deliver a breakthrough.
But it made one thing clear: USC knows exactly what the next level looks like, and now has the pieces to start chasing it.