USC and UCLA both lost to UConn, but Trojans did so with honor
USC women's basketball may have come up short in their quest for a national title in 2024-2025. At least USC fans can take satisfaction in the fact that the Trojans' rivals did not get there, either. At the 2025 Final Four, crosstown foe UCLA was blown out 85-51 by UConn in the national semifinals, ending the Bruins' season.
UCLA's season wound up ending the same exact way that USC's did: with a loss to the Huskies. While the Bruins can say that they made it to the Final Four, the Trojans actually put up a far tougher fight against UConn without Juju Watkins than UCLA did at full strength. USC lost by only 14 and was legitimately competitive, down by only five heading into the fourth quarter. UCLA lost by 34 in a game it trailed by 20 at halftime and by 23 after three quarters.
After watching Friday night's game, USC fans cannot help but wonder "what if?". Had Watkins not gotten hurt, the Trojans would have had a very good shot to take down UConn and advance to their first Final Four since the days of Cheryl Miller. Based on how Friday night's game went, USC may very well have handled its crosstown foe had the two teams met in Tampa.
UConn's 82-59 blasting of South Carolina on Sunday in the national championship game also gave us this added fact: USC was the only team to lose by fewer than 15 points to UConn in the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament. Every other UConn opponent lost by at least 23. USC's effort against UConn in the Elite Eight won't get the national respect it deserves, but everyone in that USC locker room should feel proud of how well they competed ... unlike UCLA.
Alas, that is all hypotheticals. But while it was a heartbreaking end to the season for the Trojans, USC fans can at least take satisfaction in knowing that their rivals completely and totally flopped on the sport's biggest stage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
David Greenwood, former UCLA star and NBA champion, dies at 68 after cancer battle
LOS ANGELES — David Greenwood, who was one of coach John Wooden's last recruits at UCLA and went on to win an NBA championship with Detroit during a 12-year pro career, has died. He was 68. Greenwood died Sunday in Riverside, California, after battling cancer, the school said Wednesday, citing family members.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
LSU's Kim Mulkey Reacts to Major Flau'jae Johnson Announcement on Monday
LSU's Kim Mulkey Reacts to Major Flau'jae Johnson Announcement on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The LSU women's basketball team has been considered one of the top in the college basketball world over the past several seasons, led by head coach Kim Mulkey. Advertisement Mulkey has been able to lead LSU to a national championship during her time with the program as well as several deep postseason runs. Last season with the Tigers, they made their way to the Elite Eight in the postseason. LSU defeated San Diego State, Florida State and NC State before playing the UCLA Bruins and losing to the Western Conference foe, 72-65. After the season, LSU lost a few key contributors, such as Aneesah Morrow, who transitioned to the WNBA. Despite the loss, they still have one of the best guards in the country, Flau'jae Johnson. Johnson is currently preparing for her fourth season at LSU, having established herself as a star on and off the court during her time with the Tigers. Advertisement As she works toward her senior season, Johnson has been named to the 2025 Women's Americup Team Trials. She will be participating in the training with Team USA in Colorado Springs this offseason. Kim Mulkey reacted to the announcement by reposting a photo of Flau'jae Johnson with the Team USA news posted, seemingly supporting the LSU star. Kim Mulkey, Instagram Kim Mulkey, Instagram Last season with the LSU Tigers, Flau'jae Johnson posted 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Throughout her three-year career with the Tigers, Johnson has averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. LSU Lady Tigers head coach Kim Snook-Imagn Images Kim Mulkey has been with the LSU Tigers since 2021. During her time at LSU, she has led the Tigers to a national title and Final Four appearance. Advertisement Mulkey was also previously named the AP College Basketball Coach of the Year in 2022. Related: Chicago Sky Coach Sends Strong Angel Reese Message After Loss to Indiana Fever Related: LSU's Kim Mulkey Sends Message to Flau'jae Johnson After Career Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
David Greenwood, former UCLA star and NBA champion, dies at 68 after cancer battle
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Greenwood, who was one of coach John Wooden's last recruits at UCLA and went on to win an NBA championship with Detroit during a 12-year pro career, has died. He was 68. Greenwood died Sunday in Riverside, California, after battling cancer, the school said Wednesday, citing family members. After a standout career at Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles, Greenwood began his college career at UCLA just months after Wooden's surprise retirement announcement in March 1975. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 118 games as a four-year starter in Westwood. The Bruins had a record of 102-17 and won the league title in each of his four seasons. He was a two-time league player of the year who helped the Bruins to the 1976 Final Four. Greenwood earned first-team All-America honors as a junior and senior, becoming UCLA's first player to do so since Bill Walton in 1972-74. He still ranks fourth on the school's career rebounding list. He was the second overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls lost the coin toss to the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson at No. 1, having acquired the pick in a trade with New Orleans. Before Michael Jordan arrived in Chicago in 1984, Greenwood, Reggie Theus and Orlando Woolridge were the Bulls' core players. After six seasons, the Bulls traded Greenwood in 1985 to San Antonio in exchange for future Hall of Famer George Gervin. Greenwood also played for San Antonio, Denver and Detroit, coming off the bench to help the Pistons beat Portland to win the 1990 NBA championship. He was a member of the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Last year, Greenwood attended UCLA's final Pac-12 Conference game at Pauley Pavilion. Greenwood later coached at his high school alma mater, leading Verbum Dei to state titles in 1998 and 1999. He is survived by son Jemil and daughter Tiffany as well as his brother Al, sister Laverne and former wife Joyce.
