USC Women’s Basketball Climbs to No. 16, Eyes Big December Tests
USC is on the move.
After picking up a pair of dominant wins last week, the Women of Troy are back in the Associated Press Top 25, landing at No. 16 in the latest poll. And with a challenging stretch ahead, they’ve got a chance to solidify their place among the nation’s elite-or climb even higher.
USC improved to 5-2 on the season after rolling past Tennessee Tech and Pepperdine. The wins weren’t just routine-they were emphatic.
Against Tennessee Tech, true freshman Jazzy Davidson put on a show, notching a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double in a 41-point rout. She followed that with 18 points and five assists in a 30-point win over Pepperdine.
Davidson’s early impact can’t be overstated-she’s already emerging as a cornerstone for this team, and her poise and production are turning heads across the country.
With momentum building, USC now faces a critical stretch to close out the calendar year. The Women of Troy are undefeated at home so far, and protecting that record will be key as they host Saint Mary’s, No.
21 Washington, and top-ranked Connecticut at the Galen Center. Cal Poly also visits before USC heads north to face Cal in San Francisco, followed by a trip to Nebraska before the New Year.
Make no mistake-this is a defining stretch. Washington and UConn are both ranked, and the Huskies, sitting atop the poll, represent a massive test.
That December 13 matchup with UConn is already circled on the calendar, but first, USC has to take care of business against Saint Mary’s on Tuesday and Washington on Sunday. The latter doubles as USC’s Big Ten opener, adding even more weight to an already important game.
Around the rest of the AP Top 25, there’s been some movement at the top. Texas vaulted into the No. 2 spot after a statement week that included wins over UCLA and South Carolina to win the Players Era Championship.
South Carolina and UCLA now sit at third and fourth, respectively, while LSU holds steady at No. 5.
The rest of the top ten remains unchanged, with Michigan, Maryland, TCU, Oklahoma, and Iowa State rounding it out.
Elsewhere, Iowa is holding at No. 12, Notre Dame checks in at No. 18, and Michigan State is at No.
- Washington, who USC will face this week, sits at No.
- Ohio State re-entered the rankings at No. 23 after pulling off an upset against No.
25 West Virginia.
This week could shake things up even more. The ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge tips off on Wednesday and Thursday, setting the stage for potential upsets. Meanwhile, Big Ten conference play officially begins Saturday with matchups including Indiana at Illinois, Nebraska at Penn State, and Iowa at Rutgers.
For USC, though, the focus is squarely on the present. Tuesday’s matchup with Saint Mary’s (7 p.m.
PST, Big Ten+) is a chance to stay sharp. Sunday’s showdown with Washington (5 p.m.
PST, Big Ten Network) marks the start of conference play-and a chance to prove they belong in the national conversation.
The Women of Troy are rising. Now comes the hard part: staying there.