The ninth-seeded University of Southern California women's basketball team experienced a stunning collapse on Thursday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, as the Trojans were eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament in the opening round following a 76-64 defeat at the hands of eighth-seeded Washington. The loss not only ended USC's conference championship aspirations but also cast serious doubt on their prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, particularly after star freshman guard Jazzy Davidson suffered a concerning right shoulder injury that severely limited her effectiveness throughout the contest.
Davidson's injury occurred midway through the first quarter, just as both teams were struggling to establish any offensive rhythm in what had begun as a tightly contested defensive battle. The freshman standout, who has been instrumental in USC's success this season, became entangled with a Washington defender and immediately clutched her right shoulder in visible pain as she walked off the court toward the team's bench. Game officials initiated a video review to determine whether a flagrant-1 foul had occurred, but after careful examination, they ruled the contact incidental and allowed play to continue without additional sanctions.
The brief absence of their leading scorer appeared to rattle the Trojans, who were already facing the pressure of needing a strong tournament performance to solidify their NCAA credentials. While Davidson returned to the game after missing only a few minutes of action, her impact was noticeably diminished. The dynamic guard who had terrorized Big Ten defenses throughout the regular season looked tentative and uncomfortable, her shooting motion lacking its usual fluidity and confidence.
This lack of confidence manifested in brutal shooting statistics that mirrored USC's broader offensive struggles. Davidson missed her first 10 shot attempts, eventually finishing the game with a meager eight points on 2-for-13 shooting from the field. Her inability to find the bottom of the net became symbolic of the team's larger offensive dysfunction, as the Trojans collectively shot just 31 percent for the game—a figure that proved woefully inadequate against a Washington team that capitalized on nearly every USC mistake.
The Huskies' victory was particularly sweet for sophomore guard Avery Howell, who delivered a revenge-game performance for the ages against the program she had represented as a freshman just one season prior. Howell, who transferred from USC to Washington after her inaugural collegiate campaign, torched her former teammates for 18 points on an incredibly efficient 7-for-9 shooting display, while also contributing nine rebounds and three assists. Her intimate familiarity with USC's defensive schemes and personnel preferences was evident, as she exploited weaknesses and attacked mismatches with precision and poise.
Howell's performance highlighted what has become a troubling trend for the Trojans: their inability to stop former players or contain emotional storylines that seem to motivate opponents. More critically, it exposed the defensive gaps that have emerged during USC's season-ending four-game losing streak, a skid that has seen the team transform from a potential NCAA sleeper to a squad with legitimate questions about its tournament viability.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has publicly expressed confidence throughout the season that her team's resume would be sufficient to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, pointing to their No. 22 ranking in the NET metric as evidence of their quality. However, the selection committee has historically placed significant emphasis on how teams finish the season, and dropping four straight games—including a first-round conference tournament exit—creates an unflattering narrative that statistics alone may not overcome.
The NET ranking, while impressive on its surface, becomes less compelling when paired with a 17-13 overall record and a failure to advance past the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament. USC's inability to build on last season's run to the championship game represents a significant step backward for a program that had been building momentum since joining the conference. The optics of this early elimination are particularly damaging when contrasted with the team's performance just one year ago, when they were competing for a title rather than making an early exit.
Washington's reward for their dominant performance is a quarterfinal matchup on Friday against top-seeded UCLA, a team that has established itself as the class of the Big Ten throughout the regular season. The Huskies, now 21-9 overall, will enter that contest with renewed confidence and the knowledge that they have already exceeded expectations by advancing past the opening round. For USC, the bitter reality is that their arch-rivals from Westwood will now face Washington instead of them, a twist that adds insult to injury for a program that had circled a potential rematch with the Bruins on their tournament calendar.
The Trojans' offensive breakdown against Washington revealed systemic issues that extend beyond Davidson's injury. Ball movement became stagnant, players appeared hesitant to take open shots, and the team seemed to lack a clear identity when their primary scoring option was compromised. These are problems that Gottlieb and her staff must address during the extended layoff before Selection Sunday, as they will need to present a more cohesive and confident team if they hope to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament.
Defensively, USC struggled to contain Washington's perimeter attack, allowing the Huskies to shoot at a significantly higher percentage and control the game's tempo after Davidson's injury disrupted the Trojans' rhythm. The psychological impact of seeing their star player go down clearly affected the team's focus and intensity, creating a snowball effect that Washington exploited masterfully.
As the Trojans return to Los Angeles to begin an anxious waiting period, the questions surrounding their program have multiplied. Will the NET ranking be sufficient to overcome the narrative of a team stumbling into the postseason? Can Davidson's shoulder recover fully with over a week of rest and treatment? Most importantly, can USC rediscover the offensive cohesion and defensive intensity that made them a dangerous opponent earlier in the season?
The disappointment is magnified by the context of the program's recent trajectory. Joining the Big Ten was supposed to elevate USC women's basketball to new heights, and last season's tournament run suggested they were on the right path. This early exit, however, raises concerns about whether the team has the depth and resilience to compete consistently at this level, particularly when faced with adversity.
For Davidson, the injury represents a cruel twist in what has been an otherwise stellar freshman campaign. The guard has been the centerpiece of USC's recruiting success and a primary reason for optimism about the program's future. Her health will be paramount not only for any potential NCAA Tournament run but also for the team's long-term development. A shoulder injury that limits shooting ability can have lingering effects on a player's confidence and mechanics, requiring careful management and rehabilitation.
The coming days will be filled with speculation and analysis as bracketologists debate USC's worthiness for an at-large bid. Supporters will point to the NET ranking and quality wins throughout the season, while detractors will emphasize the four-game losing streak and early tournament exit. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, but the Trojans have surrendered control of their destiny and must now rely on the mercy of the selection committee.
Washington, meanwhile, can prepare for their showdown with UCLA with the freedom of a team playing with house money. Their victory over USC validates their season and gives them a platform to showcase their abilities against the conference's best. Howell's emotional performance against her former team will undoubtedly provide additional motivation as she seeks to prove that her decision to transfer was the right one for her development.
As Selection Sunday approaches, USC finds itself in the uncomfortable position of hoping rather than knowing. The Trojans' body of work suggests they belong in the NCAA Tournament field, but their recent performance raises legitimate questions about what they could accomplish even if selected. For a program with championship aspirations, this period of uncertainty represents a significant setback and a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the unforgiving landscape of college basketball.