The Primer:

2023-2024 Record & Results: 29-6 (13-5 Pac-12) NCAA Elite Eight

Who graduated:

McKenzie Forbes: 14.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.3 APG

Kayla Padilla: 7.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.6 APG

Kaitlyn Davis: 6.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 APG

India Otto: 1.1 PPG

Who transferred out:

Taylor Bigby: 4.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG, transferred to TCU

Kayla Williams: 2.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, transferred to Cal

Roxane Makolo: 0.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, transferred to Georgia

Who transferred in:

Kiki Iriafen: 19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, transferred from Stanford

Talia von Oelhoffen: 10.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.0 APG, transferred from Oregon State

Who is coming back:

JuJu Watkins: 27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG

Rayah Marshall: 10.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG

Clarice Akunwafo: 2.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG

Dominique Darius: 2.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG

Malia Samels: 1.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG

Aaliyah Gayles: 1.1 PPG, 0.9 RPG

The Players You Know:

JuJu Watkins. Enough said.

Kidding aside, the Women of Troy will run through their sophomore guard. Watkins is a superstar already and is going to command the attention of every defense that plays USC. But what head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has managed to do is retain much of the talent around her while augmenting the starting five with portal stars. Rayah Marshall was, and still is, the unsung hero of this team and does so much work defensively and on the boards. Now you add Kiki Iriafen, a versatile defender with a consistently expanding offensive game at three levels and you have a clear upgrade from their frontcourt last season. Talia von Oelhoffen joins and is a sneaky good addition. The Oregon State system is very structured in its roles and those that have followed TVO since high school know that she is a scorer that can play in a more free flowing offense like USC’s. I’m interested to see the degree to which she breaks out. That four are an amazing core to begin with.

The Players You Need to Watch:

Unmentioned within our primer are all the recruits that are coming to USC. In a way, this is a team that is built to win titles in a year or two after another year with Watkins as the centerpiece. The portal additions say ‘win now’ but then you look at everyone coming to win tomorrow too. 6’3 freshman Vivian Iwuchukwu will get great experience learning behind Iriafen while the guards all bring major pedigrees. Kennedy Smith is the reigning California Gatorade Player of the Year and Rian Forestier averaged 25.8 points and 13.9 rebounds per game at a 6A high school in Texas. Then you add Avery Howell, an alternate for the 2024 Canadian Olympic team and Kayleigh Heckel, who won gold with Team USA at the U18 FIBA Americup and you have a deep bench behind TVO, Malia Samuels and Watkins. It may take some time for them all to gel together but it gives Coach Gottlieb plenty to work with especially after a year in which South Carolina proved that the key to a modern champion is rotational flexibility and talent in every seat on the baseline.

Season Expectations:

Title or bust for USC, in my opinion. I wouldn’t necessarily call them a favorite because the other SC exists and UConn is bringing back a team that bounced the Women of Troy in the 2023 Elite Eight. But the goal is clear: give JuJu options to ease her burden on offense and let her cook. I’m very interested to see which freshmen step up and how the front court rotation shakes out with Iwuchukwu, Lauren Williams, Rayah Marshall, Clarice Akunwafo and Kiki Iriafen. The fact that I can name five potential impact players — two of which are already stars in Iriafen and Marshall — is a testament to the roster construction. The engine is Watkins but there is more here than there was last season. I’d be stunned if a team got them out before the Final Four. After that, we just might be treated to some of the most anticipated basketball games of the season.

Games You Can’t Miss:

vs. No. 20 Ole Miss, Nov. 4 12:00 pm ET — The opener and against a team that hangs its’ hat on stifling defense. A great early season test.

vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 23 4:00 pm ET — A potential Final Four preview and one of the best guard battles all year. TVO - JuJu vs. Hidalgo - Miles? Yes please!

vs. UConn Dec. 21 8:00 pm ET — A rematch of last years’ Elite Eight. Paige vs. JuJu. Need I say more?

vs. UCLA Feb. 13 10:00 pm ET — The Battle of Los Angeles, Part 1. The frontcourt fight here will be the best part of this one. Kiki Iriafen vs. Janiah Barker.

vs. UCLA Mar. 1 9:00 pm ET — Battle of L.A. Part 2. Might be for a Big Ten regular season title depending on how it all shakes out.

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