USC Women’s Basketball Eyes Bounce-Back Win in Final Home Game of 2025
LOS ANGELES - After a tough test against the nation’s top-ranked team, USC women’s basketball returns to the Galen Center this Thursday night looking to close out its home slate for 2025 on a high note. The Trojans will host Cal Poly at 7:00 p.m. PT in what will be their penultimate nonconference matchup before diving deeper into Big Ten play.
The game marks the final chance for USC fans to see the Trojans at home this calendar year - and if the season’s trend holds, they’re in for a show. USC has been dominant on its home court, boasting a 15-1 record at the Galen Center in 2025. A win Thursday would push that mark to 16-1 and extend the Trojans’ perfect all-time record against Cal Poly to 5-0.
Looking to Rebound
USC is coming off a battle with No. 1 UConn, a game that tested the Trojans’ mettle against the best of the best.
While the result didn’t go their way, there were bright spots - particularly on the defensive end. USC held UConn to just 39 first-half points, the Huskies’ lowest output in a half this season.
That’s no small feat, and it speaks to the kind of defensive intensity head coach Lindsay Gottlieb demands from her squad.
Individually, several Trojans stepped up. Sophomore Kennedy Smith led the way with a season-high 16 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line, and added seven boards and three steals.
Freshman Jazzy Davidson continued to show why she’s one of the most exciting young players in the country, recording four blocks, 10 points, and a pair of threes. Senior Londynn Jones chipped in 14 points and knocked down eight free throws - the most by any player in the game - while Kara Dunn dished out a season-high five assists to go with five points of her own.
Scouting Cal Poly
Cal Poly enters Thursday’s matchup at 2-8, struggling through one of their roughest starts in recent seasons. The Mustangs are coming off a lopsided loss to UCLA, where they fell 115-28.
Despite the team’s struggles, sophomore guard Vanessa McManus has been a bright spot, leading the Big West in scoring at 20.1 points per game. She’ll be the focal point for USC’s defense, which has consistently shown the ability to lock down opposing stars.
Milestones on Deck
Thursday’s game also brings a few potential milestones for USC. A win would be the 884th in program history and the 101st under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who continues to etch her name into Trojan lore. With 100 wins already under her belt at USC, Gottlieb ranks third all-time among Trojan head coaches - and she got there faster than anyone before her, hitting the century mark in just 138 games.
That’s just part of what’s been a remarkable tenure for Gottlieb, who has led USC to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, the program’s second-ever Pac-12 Tournament title, and its first Big Ten regular-season championship. She’s also guided the Trojans to No. 1 seeds in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments - something USC hadn’t accomplished in over four decades.
One of the Nation’s Toughest Schedules
Gottlieb’s squad hasn’t shied away from challenges this year. USC is facing 10 teams ranked in the AP Preseason Top 25, including six matchups against top-10 opponents.
That gauntlet includes games against preseason No. 1 UConn, No.
2 South Carolina, and a pair against No. 3 UCLA.
It’s one of the most demanding schedules in the country - and it’s shaping the Trojans into a battle-tested group heading into conference play.
Eyes on the Naismith
Two Trojans - sophomore Kennedy Smith and freshman Jazzy Davidson - have been named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List. That’s rare air, and it puts them in elite company. USC’s legacy with the Naismith Trophy runs deep, with five total wins from legends like Cheryl Miller (who won it three times), Lisa Leslie, and most recently, JuJu Watkins in 2025.
The Galen Center Finale
Thursday’s matchup may not carry the weight of a ranked showdown, but it’s a key moment in the Trojans’ season. It’s the last chance to play in front of their home crowd in 2025, a chance to sharpen their edge before the grind of Big Ten play continues, and an opportunity to build momentum heading into the new year.
For USC, it’s about more than just bouncing back - it’s about continuing to build a championship-caliber identity, one possession at a time.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. PT, with coverage available on B1G+, ESPN LA 710 AM, the USC Gameday App, and the ESPNLA App.