USC Women -7.5 v. Clemson

USC drew a tough but fascinating path as a No. 9 seed in the women’s NCAA tournament, heading to Columbia, South Carolina, for a first-round matchup with Clemson. The Trojans are listed as 7.5-point favorites over the Tigers, but the bigger story is what could come next. If USC gets past Clemson, the likely reward is a second-round date with South Carolina on the Gamecocks’ home floor. That is a brutal draw for any team, especially one trying to make a March run from the nine line.

Still, USC has enough talent to make things very interesting. Senior Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn gets a shot at a familiar ACC opponent in Clemson, and that experience could matter in a game where composure will be critical. More importantly, the Trojans will go as far as freshman star Jazzy Davidson can take them. Davidson has led USC in most major statistical categories this season and has quickly become the face of the team. She is averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, giving USC a true all-around force to lean on in the tournament.

Sophomore Kennedy Smith is another major piece. She is the defensive standout on the roster and also chips in more than 11 points per game, giving USC toughness and two-way reliability. That combination of Davidson’s star power and Smith’s versatility gives the Trojans a chance to compete with just about anyone for a night.

The future remains even brighter. USC is expecting reigning national player of the year JuJu Watkins to return next season, which would set up a loaded roster built around Watkins, Davidson, Smith, and the two highest-rated incoming freshmen in the 2026 class. That is why this tournament matters even beyond this week. USC is building toward something big.

For now, though, the focus is simple: beat Clemson, embrace the challenge, and see if this young Trojan team can make some noise in Columbia.