Latest news with #MaliaSamuels
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC Makes Juju Watkins Announcement on Friday
USC Makes Juju Watkins Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The USC Trojans women's basketball team had a memorable 2024-25 season, finishing 31-4 overall and going 16-1 in their first year of Big Ten play under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. Advertisement USC reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual national champion UConn. The Trojans ended the year ranked fifth in the final Associated Press poll. Despite the success, the season ended with a sense of what might have been. The team's top player, Juju Watkins, suffered a torn ACL in the second round of the tournament, cutting her sophomore campaign short. USC never got a shot at UConn at full strength. Watkins still finished as the fourth-leading scorer in the country. Since the season ended, the Trojans have shared some uplifting news. On Friday, USC announced that Watkins was one of three players named to the university's Spring 2025 Dean's List: "Congrats to Malia, JuJu & Laura on being named to the Spring 2025 Dean's List!" Watkins was recognized along with teammates Malia Samuels and Laura Williams for their academic achievements. According to the university, the Dean's List honors undergraduates who earn a high GPA (usually 3.5 or above) while enrolled full-time with at least 12 credits. Advertisement Watkins added to her list of accomplishments with a trophy-filled season. She won the 2025 John R. Wooden Award, the Dawn Staley Award, and was named both the Associated Press and Naismith College Player of the Year. She averaged 23.9 points per game over 33 contests. South California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) © Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images Her freshman season was even more explosive. She led the nation with 27.1 points per game and pulled down 7.3 rebounds over 34 games. Watkins is represented by Klutch Sports Group and has a major NIL deal with Nike, along with several other endorsements, making her one of the highest-earning players in women's college basketball. As USC looks ahead to next season, Watkins' recovery will be a major storyline. But her academic and athletic excellence continues to set the standard for the program. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to Lexie Hull in New Post on Wednesday Related: WNBA Star Sends Clear Caitlin Clark Message After Fever Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Battle of LA in Big Ten title game: USC, UCLA to meet for conference tourney title as first-year members
INDIANAPOLIS — USC's underclassmen smiled, paused and turned to their coach with a whisper. Freshman Avery Howell and sophomore Malia Samuels had answered every question asked of them following their fourth-quarter performances that clinched the Trojans a berth to the 2025 Big Ten tournament championship game. For their final query, they needed an assist. Did they have a preference between UCLA and Ohio State for who they wanted to face in the title game? 'That's going to be a no,' USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said from at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the second semifinal was underway. 'Whoever wins, we'll be ready to play.' Ask almost anyone else that question and they would've answered right away. It's the same as it would've been in September. USC and UCLA are not only two of the best teams in the country, with national title-contending rosters, they're rivals experiencing a glow-up after decades of dimness. They boast national player of the year candidates, USC's JuJu Watkins and UCLA's Lauren Betts, surrounded by top transfer hauls on positional player of the year shortlists. It comes as little surprise the traditional Pac-12 powers will meet for the title on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS) in what has proven to be a complete takeover of the Big Ten. Including Washington and Oregon, all four former Pac-12 teams qualified for the 15-team conference tournament, forcing Purdue, Northwestern and Penn State to watch from home. The Los Angeles programs topped them all. Regular season champion USC lost a single conference game, to Iowa on the road ahead of Caitlin Clark's postgame jersey retirement ceremony. The Trojans advanced thought the Big Ten tournament with an 82-70 semifinal win over Michigan. UCLA lost two games all season, both to USC. Bruins players and coaches haven't been quiet about wanting to see USC again. 'From the very beginning, I was pretty emphatic about that,' UCLA head coach Cori Close said after blasting Ohio State, 75-46, in the second semifinal. 'I think I was asked about that right after our game we lost at our place (on March 1). And I said, absolutely, I'd love another opportunity.' The latest bout in the 2025 Los Angeles series — and the third in 23 days — arrives amid different circumstances. Neither will have home advantage on the court or in the crowd. The UCLA and USC contingents were strong through two days for programs based more than 2,000 miles away. They paled in comparison to the Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan concentrations here in the heart of Big Ten country. And in a city newly filled with Indiana Fever, more WNBA and neutral women's basketball gear dotted the landscape than that of the conference's newest standouts. Optimal rest and preparation is subjective for both. It will be the third game in three days, and already the schedule appeared to take a toll on USC. Starting center Rayah Marshall missed the quarterfinals with an illness and Watkins looked a step slower and winded late in the semifinals. The Trojans played closer contests, edging Indiana by five in the quarterfinals. UCLA, which had to work for a win over Nebraska in the quarters, went deep into its bench with the win over Ohio State out of hand by halftime. The Big Ten trophy for the history books awaiting the winner in a day is almost secondary in a matchup weighted in levels. It is their final chance to add a cherry on top of their NCAA tournament résumés with a logjam of programs jockeying for No. 1 seeds. ESPN and Her Hoop Stats projected both teams maintaining No. 1 seeds in their bracketology heading into the conference tournament semifinals. Notre Dame likely squandered its chance by not making it to the ACC title game, while Texas, South Carolina and Connecticut are also top contenders. The No. 1 overall seed is still up for grabs, creating a tough decision for the NCAA women's basketball committee in the coming week. USC winning three over UCLA could prove the difference in a higher position. UCLA finding its footing against the only team it's lost to would brighten its outlook after solidly holding the overall top spot in its otherwise undefeated run. That's all noise in the background of UCLA's present reality. The Bruins played poorly in both of their biggest games this season, allowing Watkins to score 68 total points while shooting 45 percent, blocking shots and packing the rest of the stats. The Trojans dictated the play both at home and on the road. 'If you're a real competitor, you want to be tested against the very best and you want to have opportunities to conquer your previous adversities,' Close said. 'That's exactly what we're getting. It forces you to dig deep and to find new levels of growth.' Betts, the Bruins' fulcrum, performed below her season standards with inefficient shooting, and disappeared defensively. 'Everyone's been held accountable individually and we've had a lot of meetings,' Betts said. 'We obviously felt really badly about how we played them the last time and how we showed up, and we don't ever want to feel that again.' While the tournament matchups in the interim were fun and all — a young, upset-minded Michigan team and Iowa's group nearly crashing the party in Caitlin Clark's new house highlighted the week — this is what the masses yearned for on championship Sunday. USC, with two wins in what could end up being a four-game series should they meet in the NCAA tournament, can stay hushed about it. UCLA called its shot for everyone.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC, UCLA to meet in Big Ten title game after dominating conference in first season
INDIANAPOLIS — USC's underclassmen smiled, paused and turned to their coach with a whisper. Freshman Avery Howell and sophomore Malia Samuels had answered every question asked of them following their fourth-quarter performances that clinched the Trojans the first berth for the 2025 Big Ten national championship game. For their final query, they needed an assist. Did they have a preference between UCLA and Ohio State for who they wanted to face in the title game? 'That's going to be a no,' USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said from at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the second semifinal was underway. 'Whoever wins, we'll be ready to play.' Ask almost anyone else that question and they would've answered right away. It's the same as it would've been in September. USC and UCLA are not only two of the best teams in the country with national title-contending rosters, they're rivals experiencing a glow-up after decades of dimness. They boast national player of the year candidates, USC's JuJu Watkins and UCLA's Lauren Betts, surrounded by top transfer hauls on positional player of the year shortlists. It comes as little surprise the traditional Pac-12 powers will meet for the title on Sunday (4:30 p.m., CBS) in what has proven to be a complete takeover of the Big Ten. Including Washington and Oregon, all four former Pac-12 teams qualified for the 15-team conference tournament, forcing Purdue, Northwestern and Penn State to watch from home. The Los Angeles programs topped them all. Regular season champion USC lost a single conference game, to Iowa on the road ahead of Caitlin Clark's postgame jersey retirement ceremony. The Trojans advanced thought the Big Ten tournament in an 82-70 semifinal win over Michigan. UCLA lost two games all season, both to USC. The Bruins players and coaches haven't been quiet about wanting to see USC again. 'From the very beginning, I was pretty emphatic about that,' UCLA head coach Cori Close said after blasting Ohio State, 75-46, in the second semifinal. 'I think I was asked about that right after our game we lost at our place (on March 1). And I said, absolutely, I'd love another opportunity.' The latest bout in the 2025 Los Angeles series — and the third in 23 days — arrives amid different circumstances. Neither will have home advantage on the court or in the crowd. The UCLA and USC contingents were strong through two days for programs based more than 2,000 miles away. They paled in comparison to the Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan concentrations here in the heart of Big Ten country. And in a city newly filled with Fever, more WNBA and neutral women's basketball gear dotted the landscape than that of the conference's newest standouts. Optimal rest and preparation is subjective for both. It will be the third game in three days, and already the schedule appeared to take a toll on USC. Starting center Rayah Marshall missed the quarterfinals with an illness and Watkins looked a step slower and winded late in the semifinals. The Trojans played closer contests, edging Indiana by five in the quarterfinals. UCLA, which had to work for a win over Nebraska in the quarters, went deep into its bench with the win over Ohio State out of hand by half. The Big Ten trophy awaiting the winner in a day for the history books is almost secondary in a matchup weighted in levels. It is their final chance to add a cherry on top of their NCAA tournament résumés with a logjam of programs jockeying for No. 1 seeds. ESPN and Her Hoop Stats projected both teams maintaining No. 1 seeds in their bracketology heading into the conference tournament semifinals. Notre Dame likely squandered its chance by not making it to the ACC title game, while Texas, South Carolina and Connecticut are also top contenders. The No. 1 overall seed is still up for grabs, creating a tough decision for the NCAA women's basketball committee in the coming week. USC winning three over UCLA could prove the difference in a higher position. UCLA finding its footing against the only team it's lost to would brighten its outlook after solidly holding the overall top spot in its undefeated run. That's all noise in the background of UCLA's present reality. The Bruins played poorly in both of their biggest games this season, allowing Watkins to score 68 total points while shooting 45 percent, blocking shots and packing the rest of the stats. The Trojans dictated the play both at home and on the road. 'If you're a real competitor, you want to be tested against the very best and you want to have opportunities to conquer your previous adversities,' Close said. 'That's exactly what we're getting. It forces you to dig deep and to find new levels of growth.' Betts, the Bruins' fulcrum, performed below her season standards with inefficient shooting and disappeared defensively. 'Everyone's been held accountable individually and we've had a lot of meetings,' Betts said. 'We obviously felt really badly about how we played them the last time and how we showed up, and we don't ever want to feel that again.' While the tournament matchups in the interim were fun and all — a young, upset-minded Michigan team and Iowa's group nearly crashing the party in Caitlin Clark's new house highlighted the week — this is what the masses yearned for on championship Sunday. USC, with two wins in what could end up being a four-game series should they meet in the NCAA tournament, can stay hushed about it. UCLA called its shot for everyone.
