All eyes in the basketball world will be on Southern California on Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers are set to go head-to-head. Then, on Saturday night, USC women's basketball and UCLA women's basketball play in a pivotal matchup. Today, we will focus on the USC-UCLA clash.
JuJu Watkins is looking to lead No. 4 USC to an upset victory. However, Lauren Betts and No. 2 UCLA will prove to be a difficult opponent to say the least. Will the Bruins be able to take care of business, or can the Trojans get the job done?
UCLA women's basketball
UCLA will enter the contest with a stellar 28-1 record. The Bruins have played a consistent brand of basketball throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
Betts leads UCLA with 20 points per game. She is becoming one of the better players in the sport. Her 9.8 rebounds per outing also leads the Bruins. Additionally, KiKi Rice has played well, averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game.
The Bruins feature a fairly balanced attack. They don't always record jaw-dropping numbers, but UCLA finds ways to win games, and that is what matters.
USC women's basketball
USC is 26-2 this season. They have displayed signs of promising potential. The Trojans have endured some ups and downs, but USC is still clearly playing at a high level overall.
Watkins is arguably the best women's college basketball player right now. Her 24.2 points and 3.6 assists per game lead USC. Additionally, Watkins is recording per game averages of 2.1 steals and 2.0 blocks per outing.
Kiki Iriafen is helping matters as well, averaging 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
When the Trojans play up to their full potential, they are one of the most challenging teams to face in the sport.
Predicting the winner of USC vs. UCLA
It would not be surprising to see the USC-UCLA game end up getting decided in the final minute of regulation, or possibly even overtime. With the regular season winding down, this specific contest is more than just a rivalry game. Rather, it is a must-win for both teams.
UCLA will likely be a popular pick, but we are going with USC. Stars tend to play their best basketball in the clutch moments, and JuJu Watkins will be more than prepared for Saturday night's game.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9 PM EST.