Honestly, if you haven't been keeping tabs on the Galen Center lately, you’ve missed a whirlwind. The usc basketball women's schedule for the 2025-26 season hasn't just been a list of dates on a calendar; it’s been a gauntlet. We are talking about a program that entered the year as the defending Big Ten regular-season champions, only to face a reality check that nobody saw coming back in the summer.
The season kicked off with a massive shadow looming over the court. In late September 2025, the news broke that JuJu Watkins would miss the entire 2025-26 season to recover from a torn ACL. It was a gut punch. Suddenly, the most electrifying player in the country was on the bench in street clothes. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb had to pivot—and fast.
The Non-Conference Gauntlet
The early part of the schedule was basically a "who's who" of national powerhouses. USC didn't take the easy route. They opened up on November 4th with a dominant 87-48 win over New Mexico State, but things got real very quickly after that.
On November 15, the Trojans hosted South Carolina at Crypto.com Arena. It was billed as "The Real SC." It was also a reality check. The Gamecocks took that one 69-52. A few days later, the Trojans traveled to South Bend and lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame, 61-59.
But it wasn't all gloom. Freshman Jazzy Davidson stepped into the vacuum left by JuJu. She’s been incredible. By the time the Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic rolled around on December 21, Davidson was leading the team in scoring. USC managed to grind out a 61-57 win over Cal at the Chase Center, proving they could still win the "ugly" games.
Entering the Big Ten Meat Grinder
The turn of the year brought the full weight of the Big Ten. If you look at the usc basketball women's schedule, January 2026 has been a month of narrow margins and tough lessons.
On January 3, the Trojans headed to Westwood. Pauley Pavilion is never friendly, but a 80-46 loss to UCLA was a tough pill to swallow. It felt like the team was still searching for its identity without their superstar. They followed that with a narrow loss to Oregon (71-66) and an absolute nail-biter against Minnesota on January 11, losing 63-62.
Just a few days ago, on January 15, they faced No. 12 Maryland at home. It was another close one, a 62-55 loss. Currently, the team sits at 10-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play. It’s a transition year, for sure, but the talent is there.
The Road Ahead: Key Matchups to Circle
If you are planning to catch a game, the back half of the usc basketball women's schedule is where the drama lives. The Trojans are currently prepping for a home game against Purdue on January 18. This is a must-win to get back to .500 in the Big Ten.
- January 29 vs. Iowa: This is one of the most anticipated home games. It’s the first time the Hawkeyes will ever play at the Galen Center. Expect a sell-out.
- February 12 vs. Indiana: Another home test against a perennial powerhouse.
- February 22 at Ohio State: A brutal road trip to Columbus that will test their depth.
- March 1 vs. UCLA: The regular-season finale. It’s Senior Day. It’s the rivalry. It’s basically everything.
The broadcast schedule is actually pretty accessible if you can't make it to the Galen Center. You’ll find games split across the Big Ten Network, Peacock, and FS1. For example, that final UCLA game on March 1st is slated for a 3:00 PM PT tip-off on FS1.
Why This Schedule Matters for the Future
Most people get wrong the idea that this season is a "wash" because JuJu is out. It’s actually the opposite. This stretch is forcing players like Kennedy Smith and Londynn Jones to carry a heavier load.
Jazzy Davidson is currently averaging over 16 points a game as a freshman. That is wild. When JuJu returns next year, she’s going to be joining a roster of players who have been through the fire.
The Big Ten is significantly harder now with the expansion. Traveling to places like Michigan and Nebraska is a different beast than the old Pac-12 road trips. The travel fatigue is real. USC is currently 2nd in the nation in Strength of Schedule (SOS), which tells you everything you need to know about why their record looks the way it does.
How to Follow the Trojans Right Now
If you want to keep up with the latest shifts in the usc basketball women's schedule, your best bet is the official USC Athletics site or the Big Ten Plus (B1G+) app.
- Tickets: You can still find single-game tickets starting around $10-15 for most home games, though the Iowa and UCLA matchups are trending much higher on the secondary market.
- Streaming: B1G+ carries a huge chunk of the conference games that don't make it to the main networks.
- Stats: Keep an eye on the defensive ratings. Despite the losses, the Trojans are still ranked 5th in the nation in blocks per game. They are long, and they are difficult to score on inside.
The reality of the usc basketball women's schedule is that it’s a rebuilding of a culture in real-time. It’s about surviving the Big Ten grind so that when 2027 rolls around, this team is an absolute juggernaut.
Watch the Purdue game this Sunday at 2:00 PM. It’ll tell us a lot about whether this team has the grit to finish the season strong. Then, make sure your Peacock subscription is active for the Iowa game on the 29th; that’s going to be a showcase of the next generation of women's hoops.
Check the live standings on the Big Ten official site to see how the seeding for the Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament (starting March 4) is shaking out. Admission for the early rounds in Indianapolis usually opens up in February, so keep your eyes peeled for those ticket drops.