USC’s women’s basketball schedule just picked up a marquee early-season test.
The Trojans will meet Baylor on Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. PT in the inaugural Intuit Dome Hollywood Hardwood Classic, a matchup that will also mark the first women’s college basketball game ever played at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.
It’s a fitting stage for a USC team carrying real buzz into the 2026-27 season. Lindsay Gottlieb’s group is expected to be much stronger with star guards Jazzy Davidson and JuJu Watkins back in the fold, along with a top recruiting class arriving to bolster the roster.
That anticipation is built on the kind of season USC wants to leave behind. In 2025-26, the Trojans went 18-14 overall and 9-9 in Big Ten play after Watkins missed the year while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the NCAA Tournament the previous season. USC still managed a first-round tournament win, edging Clemson 71-67 in overtime, before running into eventual national runner-up South Carolina and losing 101-61.
Even in a season that didn’t meet expectations, Davidson gave USC a clear centerpiece. The freshman guard averaged 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, and her production earned her Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Now the Trojans are aiming higher, and the return of Watkins gives them the kind of backcourt that can change the entire conversation around the program. USC also has unfinished business after falling to Paige Bueckers and UConn in the Elite 8 two years ago.
The national title odds reflect that optimism. According to the latest FanDuel Sportsbook numbers, USC has the third-best chance to win it all at +460, behind South Carolina at +240 and UConn at +290.
Baylor brings its own credibility to the matchup. The Bears went 25-9 overall and 13-5 in Big 12 play last season, earned a No. 6 seed in the tournament, beat Nebraska 67-62 in the opening round, and then lost to Duke 69-46 in the second round.
Both teams head into this season with deep tournament goals, which makes this November meeting more than just a showcase game. For USC, it’s also a chance to put an early stamp on a season built around championship expectations.
The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
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