Lindsay Gottlieb, Women of Troy still have work to do, but roster build is moving forward

USA Today

24-04-2025

Lindsay Gottlieb, Women of Troy still have work to do, but roster build is moving forward USC and Lindsay Gottlieb are beginning to shift the reality of their situation, but more work remains to be done in the portal.
Earlier this week, USC women's basketball made headlines when the Trojans landed UCLA transfer Londynn Jones. Jones was a starter on the Bruins' Final Four team this past season, averaging 8.5 points per game.
With a lot of uncertainty over what their roster will look like when next season rolls around, landing Jones was a move the Trojans badly needed. Perhaps even more important, however, Lindsay Gottlieb and the Women of Troy made a statement: They aren't going anywhere.
It has been a rather tumultuous start to the offseason for USC. With superstar Juju Watkins having suffered an ACL injury in the NCAA Tournament, her status for next year is very much up in the air. The Trojans then saw starters Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall get drafted into the WNBA, while freshmen standouts Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel elected to enter the transfer portal.
Add all of that up, and, despite coming off back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, many people are wondering if USC will be capable of competing in the Big Ten next year.
Landing Jones doesn't immediately answer all of those questions. But it does send a clear and important message: The Trojans aren't going anywhere.
The faces may change, and adversity may hit, but as long as Lindsay Gottlieb is at the helm, USC will be in contention for the top players in the country, both coming out of high school and in the portal.
If the Jones move is any indication, expect USC to continue to be aggressive this offseason. The Trojans have made it clear that they are not going to use injuries and transfers as an excuse, and that they will continue to do everything they can to attract the best talent in the country.
For USC fans, that is exciting. For the rest of the sport, however, it is an incredibly scary thought.