UCLA, USC rivalry is unmatched

(News4usOnline) – Two of the best women’s college basketball teams in the country play in Southern California. Yes, that’s right. UCLA and USC are two of the best squads in the country. 

What a way to kick off Women’s History Month than with two of the premier women college basketball teams giving us a preview of the greatness that belies both squads.

Before diving into the Big Ten Conference roundup and the NCAA Tournament that begin during March Madness, the Bruins and the Trojans get a second go at each other in conference play. 

The first time UCLA and USC hooked up, the Trojans knocked off the then No. Bruins in an upset win at Galen Center near downtown Los Angeles. The Bruins won their first 23 games of the regular season before the Trojans handed them a double-digit defeat for their first and only defeat on Feb. 13.  

Don’t think the Bruins have forgotten about the loss to their crosstown rivals. With both teams having gone down in defeat only once in Big Ten Conference play, the Bruins and Trojans will vie for the conference title when they again one last time. This time the Big Ten Conference championship is on the line.

The Bruins are ranked No. 1 in the country. The Trojans occupy the No. 4 spot. This means the season finale at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood figures to be one to watch. Win and USC validates they are the best women’s college basketball team on the West Coast and will retain city bragging rights. 

At least until the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments get underway. For the Bruins, a team that served an early beatdown on reigning champs South Carolina in a home game, they want to remind folks they can go out and kick any team’s tails. They barely did that in their latest escape against Iowa. 

Under head coach Cori Close, UCLA has proven itself to be considered as one of the premier women’s college basketball programs in the country for the last several years. The Bruins have never played in a Final Four under Close, but this may be the year that UCLA breaks through that glass ceiling. 

For the last two seasons, Close and UCLA have danced all the way to the regional semifinals before being knocked out of the tournament. The Bruins and Close are due to make it among the best four teams in the country to play for the championship. One could also make the same argument for the Trojans. 

 Leading that resurgence is head coach Lindsay Gotlieb. Gotlieb has been head coach for the Trojans for four years now. The last two years have led to recalling the days of the glory of Troy when Cheryl Miller dominated women’s college basketball. 

The last two seasons, the Trojans have made the NCAA Tournament. This will be the third time in four years Gotlieb will lead USC to the Dance. 

Prior to Gotlieb joining the Trojans, USC had not sniffed a tournament opportunity since the 2013-14 season when Cynthia Cooper was head coach. Leading USC’s path back to greatness has been JuJu Watkins, the Trojans’ mercurial guard.  

The good thing for college basketball fans in the Southland is we now have two teams to root for instead of one. 

Lead Photo Caption: Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, left, blocks the shot of UCLA center Lauren Betts, center, as center Clarice Akunwafo helps defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)