USC women’s golf has added a new backer, announcing a multi-year partnership with Forge that makes the El Monte-based golf performance center the program’s official bag sponsor.
Forge built its reputation around a blend of coaching, biomechanics, fitness, technology and data, using those tools to shape individualized development plans for golfers at every level. That includes juniors, collegiate players and touring professionals around the world.
Head coach Justin Silverstein called the deal a meaningful step for the program.
"This partnership with Forge is a milestone moment for our program," Head Coach Justin Silverstein said. "Having a partner that believes in our student-athletes enough to invest directly in them helps us build on the standard of excellence we're proud of, both on and off the course. We're grateful to Forge for stepping up for women's golf, and we're excited to see where this partnership takes our program."
Forge was founded in 2026 by former professional golfer Ben Lein. The company’s process begins with a performance baseline for each player, then connects them with a network of specialists before setting individual development goals. Members also get access to exclusive events, educational seminars and partner product demonstrations.
Lein said USC was an easy fit for what Forge wants to do in the game.
"USC Women's Golf is one of the premier programs in the country, and its athletes are exceptional competitors who carry themselves with real class and professionalism," Founder and CEO Ben Lein said. "At Forge, our mission is to support golfers at every stage of their development, from juniors to collegiate athletes to touring professionals. Partnering with a program that is shaping the next generation of professionals is a natural extension of what we do."
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Is Giving USC Fans A Bigger Reason To Believe
Lincoln Rileys first season-plus at USC has already given the Trojans enough to measure against, and now the national awards circuit is taking notice too. Riley has been named to the 2026 Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List, a group of 28 coaches recognized not just for winning, but for the kind of grit, integrity and all-around impact that the award has long stood for.
For USC fans, the nod is another reminder that the programs profile under Riley remains very much in the national conversation. The honor is presented annually in January, with the ceremony set for Jan. 27, 2027, in Houston, and it adds one more layer of attention to a coach already carrying the expectations that come with leading the Trojans. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces A Road Test Fans Can't Ignore Before Ohio State
Before USC even gets to the Ohio State conversation, the Trojans have a tough stop waiting in Madison. Their third road game of the season comes against Wisconsin on Saturday, with NBC putting the matchup in primetime at 4:30 p.m. PT, and it is the kind of setting that tends to expose any team still sorting out its identity away from home.
Todd Blackledge pointed to the challenge Wisconsins physical defense can present, especially for a USC team that has to handle the full road-game grind before a bigger spotlight arrives later. He also singled out quarterback Colton Joseph as a problem for the Trojans because of his running ability, a wrinkle that can make an already demanding trip feel even more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Maiava Faces A Proving Ground USC Fans Have Been Waiting For
Jayden Maiava is about to get one of the most revealing stages of USCs season, with the No. 16 Trojans heading to Camp Randall Stadium for a primetime road test against Wisconsin. It is the kind of environment that usually tells you a lot about a quarterback, and Maiava has become central to what USC has built so far.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell already acknowledged the challenge Maiava presents, a nod to how much attention the Trojans quarterback has drawn heading into Saturday nights 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on NBC. For USC, this is the sort of proving ground fans have been waiting for, the kind of game that can either reinforce the confidence around Maiava or add a new layer to the questions that follow him on the road. [Read more 🡒]