USC is loaded with talent around star JuJu Watkins. This is why the Trojans may be the most dangerous team in college hoops

Only seven minutes separated USC women’s basketball from the Final Four last season.

The Trojans were led by women’s basketball’s newest sensation: freshman guard JuJu Watkins. She broke the national freshman scoring record with 920 points and was second in the nation with 27.1 points per game.

Through sold-out gyms, a big season-opening win over Ohio State and the final season of Pac-12 women’s basketball as we knew it, Watkins led the Trojans to an Elite Eight berth to face a No. 3 seed. Delivered.

But this wasn’t just any 3-seed. It was UConn.

Last season’s Elite Eight was billed as a clash of the titans. A title game rematch between Iowa and LSU attracted much of the attention, but UConn and USC got their fair share, with viewership of 6.7 million.

On one side were the upstarts Trojan and Watkins. On the other side was UConn, blue as blood, led by their own star lead guard in Paige Bueckers. The future of the sport lies before the symbols of the past and present.

But all that experience mattered in the end when the Huskies took seven minutes to take over and expand the lead to take them across the finish line. It’s a moment that’s memorable for USC head coach Lindsey Gottlieb, who got to work preparing for next season as quickly as possible.

“As much gratitude as you have for that season and the things we did, you immediately turn the page and say the bar has been raised,” Gottlieb said. “The standard has been raised.”

The Trojans have talent, after all they reached the Elite Eight. JuJu Watkins’ ability speaks for itself, but players like Reiya Marshall will be back. But with second-leading scorer McKenzie Forbes opting out of eligibility and moving to the WNBA, there were some holes to fill.

To that end, USC staff turned to the transfer portal. Not as a rebuilding tool, as some teams have used it, but to supplement the talent on the roster. In stepped Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen.

Iriafen’s resume speaks for itself, he was on a Stanford team that won the Pac-12 three times, was named honorable mention AP All-American and won the Katrina McClain Award as the best power forward in the NCAA.

“She’s going to be a top-three pick in the WNBA draft,” Gottlieb said. “She’s very nice.”

What matters to Iriafen is honoring the greats of women’s basketball who came before her. He has felt the impact of that history. When she committed to USC from the portal, she received a congratulatory message from Trojan alumna Lisa Leslie, and she regularly sees program veteran Cheryl Miller at practice.

“You don’t really get that anywhere else,” Iriafen said. “I think it’s a blessing to have all those great guys and legends in our corner.”

The Trojans’ other transfer, Von Oelhoffen, came from a successful Oregon State program with a strong basketball IQ, positional versatility and a strong defensive reputation.

“She’s very intelligent, can play any position,” Gottlieb said. “He has a mind that helps young players, makes everything fit together.”

One reason Gottlieb was attracted to each player was tournament experience. Iriafen had just reached the Sweet Sixteen with Stanford and von Oelhoffen’s Oregon State team was in the Elite Eight with USC.

This is not just a matter of transfers. USC is welcoming seven freshmen to the program this season, several of whom are rated as one of ESPN’s top players in the class of 2024. Gottlieb said he also expects immediate contributions.

He praised the three different incoming freshmen who will be joining the team this season. Kennedy Smith’s defensive ability and ability to play on that end immediately at the college level, Kayleigh Heckel’s agility at point guard and Avery Howell could become the Trojans’ best three point shooter.

“All the new players really have priority impact for us, but I think you’ll see some of them really get major minutes,” Gottlieb said.

Between Watkins, other returning stars, an experienced transfer class and a platoon of talented newcomers, USC will look to build on last year’s success and reach even higher levels.