UCLA women’s basketball won the national championship this past season. Now, crosstown rival, USC, is considered a frontrunner to do the same next season.
USC boasts the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class that features No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall. The Trojans are also getting back National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson for her sophomore season. And superstar JuJu Watkins will make her long-awaited return to the court after tearing her ACL in the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago.
Cori Close is Excited About USC’s Roster Next Season
The absence of Watkins certainly helped UCLA defeat USC in both matchups between the crosstown rivals last season. But Bruins coach Cori Close, who recently signed a contract extension with UCLA through the 2030 season, said she is excited for Watkins’ return and the depth of USC’s roster next season.
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Close explained how the talent on both UCLA and USC’s squads will help draw attention to women’s basketball in Los Angeles.
“I’m excited about herr” Close said on Sports Central LA on Saturday. “… I’m so pumped to be a part of the USC-UCLA rivalry. The reason it’s really fun is both teams, both sets of coaches, are really, really good. I’m excited to have JuJu back, she’s going to make me a better coach, she’s going to make us game plan more strategically and she’s going to help us grow women’s basketball in LA.”
Watkins expressed her respect for Close in an interview with Sports Central LA. She also congratulated the Bruins on winning the national championship.
“She’s good people,” Watkins said of Close. “I’d say congrats, they’re coming off of a national title.”
UCLA lost six star players to the WNBA after the season ended. But the Bruins replenished the roster with five standout transfers that earned a No. 5 overall ranking across all transfer portal classes in the nation by ESPN.
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While UCLA enters the new season as defending national champions, USC will be looking to win their first NCAA title since winning back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984 under head coach Linda Sharp.
Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
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