Kara Dunn is heating up - and just in time for USC.
The senior guard has found another gear over the last few weeks, and Sunday’s performance against Purdue might have been her best yet. Dunn dropped 29 points on an ultra-efficient 12-for-17 shooting night, continuing a scorching four-game stretch where she’s not only taken on more offensive responsibility but thrived in it. It marked her fourth straight game with at least 20 points and 16 shot attempts - the only four times she’s hit that shot volume all season - and once again, she led the Trojans in scoring.
This run didn’t come out of nowhere, but it certainly took off after a Jan. 6 matchup against Oregon. That night, with sophomore star Kennedy Smith sidelined, Dunn took a season-high 18 shots and matched her season-best with 21 points, adding a season-high nine rebounds for good measure. Since then, she’s looked like a player who knows exactly how important she is to USC’s offense - and isn’t afraid to show it.
“That is a mindset I probably should have had sooner,” Dunn said after the win over Purdue. “I’m grateful to be able to step up in this position, and I really hope I keep it going throughout the season.”
She’s not just keeping it going - she’s carrying the load. And on Sunday, with Smith back in the lineup, Dunn didn’t take a step back. Instead, she delivered a signature performance, helping USC snap a four-game losing streak with a dominant 83-57 win over Purdue.
A Win They Needed, a Leader They Can Count On
The victory couldn’t have come at a better time. USC had dropped four straight, including a pair of games where they led by multiple scores and a 34-point drubbing at the hands of No.
3 UCLA. That skid knocked them out of the AP Top 25 and raised questions about whether this team could regain its early-season form.
But against Purdue, the Trojans looked reenergized - and much of that spark came from their leaders.
Smith, returning from a lower-leg injury that kept her out for three games and part of the UCLA loss, didn’t light up the box score offensively, but she didn’t need to. In limited minutes, she played her role to perfection: six assists, two blocks, two steals, and a steadying presence on both ends. After a slow start, she locked in defensively and looked like the elite paint protector she’s known to be.
“Having Ken back on the court is a huge blessing,” Dunn said. “Even though she’s a sophomore, Ken is basically a vet. She makes everything so much easier.”
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb echoed that sentiment, calling Smith’s return “incredible,” but also emphasized how the team grew in her absence. Without Smith, both Dunn and freshman guard Jazzy Davidson were forced to take on bigger roles - and they’ve responded.
“Our best days are in front of us,” Gottlieb said.
Dunn’s Rise, WNBA Buzz, and a Freshman Star in the Making
Dunn, a transfer from Georgia Tech, is now firmly on the radar of WNBA scouts. Her recent scoring surge has only added fuel to the buzz, but her consistency is what really stands out.
She’s shooting 47.3% from the field - the best mark among USC’s regular starters - and an impressive 39.2% from three. She’s also the team’s second-leading rebounder at 4.8 per game.
Against Purdue, she topped both of those averages, grabbing five boards and knocking down four of her six three-point attempts. But beyond the numbers, Dunn’s leadership is resonating - especially with Davidson.
“KD, she’s a great leader. She has all of our backs,” Davidson said.
“It’s just been really nice having that kind of voice for me as a freshman, and navigating through things. Obviously, losing is not fun, but I feel like just with her leadership, it’s really helped us get through that.”
Davidson didn’t have her most efficient outing on Sunday - just 1-for-7 in the first half and 4-for-12 overall - but she still finished with 13 points, six assists, three rebounds, three steals, and a block. Even when her shot isn’t falling, she finds ways to impact the game. That’s why she’s leading the team in scoring at 16 points per game and why ESPN recently ranked her the No. 16 overall player in the country - the only freshman in the top 20 and the lone Trojan on the list.
The Forward Rotation: Still a Work in Progress
While USC’s backcourt rotation - Davidson, Dunn, Smith, Malia Samuels, and sixth woman Londynn Jones - is largely set, the forward spot remains a bit of a revolving door. Five different forwards have logged meaningful minutes this season, and three have started games. Gottlieb hasn’t settled on a full-time starter yet, instead opting to go with matchups and practice performance.
“It really is what we think is the best matchup for us in terms of what the opposing post player brings and also how people perform in practice,” Gottlieb said. “We expect people coming off the bench to be effective and ready too. We know we’re going to play multiple bigs for sure.”
On Sunday, sophomore Vivian Iwuchukwu got the nod, her first start in over a month after Gerda Raulušaityte had held the spot for seven straight games. Iwuchukwu made the most of her opportunity, scoring seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and pulling down four rebounds.
“She just comes in with a positive attitude every day,” Gottlieb said. “She’s always watching film, she’s always working, and she’s a tremendous athlete.
She remains coachable. She’s strung together more positives than anything else [recently].”
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Road Test
Next up, the Trojans hit the road for a tough two-game swing through Michigan. First, they’ll face No.
13 Michigan State on Thursday, followed by No. 7 Michigan on Sunday.
Both opponents are sitting near the top of the Big Ten and inside the top 15 nationally - and USC hasn’t beaten a team in that tier yet this season (0-4).
This trip could be a turning point. A win - or two - would be a major résumé boost and a confidence jolt with the NCAA Tournament about two months away.
The pieces are there: a rising star in Davidson, a steady veteran in Dunn, and a defensive anchor in Smith. Now it’s about putting it all together - and doing it against elite competition.
If Sunday’s performance was any indication, USC might just be finding its rhythm at the right time.