Top Teams Collide: USC and UCLA Battle for Big Ten Supremacy
A clash of titans is set to unfold this Saturday as the No. 4 USC Trojans and the No. 3 UCLA Bruins, two of the nation’s elite women’s college basketball teams, lock horns for the coveted top spot in the Big Ten Conference. The stakes are high, with conference bragging rights and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Women’s Tournament on the line.
The showdown will take place at the historic Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, adding an extra layer of significance to this already highly anticipated matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, promising a late-night spectacle for basketball fans across the country.
This game represents the regular-season finale for both teams, intensifying the pressure and excitement surrounding the contest. With identical 16-1 conference records, both USC and UCLA are determined to secure the top seed and gain a crucial advantage heading into the Big Ten Women’s Tournament, which will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis from March 5-9. The tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The matchup is especially intriguing due to the presence of two of college basketball’s brightest stars: USC’s freshman sensation JuJu Watkins and UCLA’s dominant center Lauren Betts. Both players have been instrumental in their teams’ success this season and are poised to play pivotal roles in Saturday’s game.
Watkins, a dynamic guard with a knack for scoring and playmaking, has taken the college basketball world by storm. Her ability to score in bunches, create opportunities for her teammates, and make an impact on the defensive end has made her a frontrunner for national player of the year honors. Betts, a towering presence in the paint, is a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor. Her rebounding prowess, shot-blocking ability, and offensive versatility make her a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.
The first meeting between these two teams earlier this season was a thriller, with USC emerging victorious in a 71-60 triumph at the Galen Center. In that game, Watkins delivered a performance for the ages, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 38 points, 11 rebounds, a career-high eight blocks, and five assists. The loss was UCLA’s only blemish on their record so far this season.
UCLA enters Saturday’s game riding a wave of momentum, having recently completed a successful 2-0 road trip to the Midwest. The Bruins secured impressive victories against Iowa and Wisconsin, showcasing their ability to win in hostile environments. In UCLA’s dominant 30-point win over Wisconsin on Wednesday, Betts led the charge with 26 points and 10 rebounds, marking her 14th game this season with at least 20 points.
While UCLA has been consistently dominant all season, with their only loss to USC, the Bruins’ resume against ranked teams arguably edges out the Trojans. That’s why ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme currently projects UCLA as the top overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Women’s Tournament, while he has USC slated as a No. 2 seed. The winner of this game will not only secure the number one seed for the Big Ten Tournament, but will also likely move into the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament bracketology.
The importance of securing a high seed in the NCAA Tournament cannot be overstated. A higher seed typically translates to a more favorable path to the later rounds of the tournament, increasing a team’s chances of making a deep run and competing for a national championship.
The rivalry between USC and UCLA transcends basketball, encompassing all sports and representing a fierce competition between two of Los Angeles’ premier universities. This game adds another chapter to that storied rivalry, with both teams eager to claim bragging rights and assert their dominance in the city.
For fans eager to catch the action live, Fox will broadcast Saturday’s Big Ten women’s basketball showdown between UCLA and USC. Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
While both teams are expected to bring their A-game and leave it all on the court, the article’s prediction leans towards USC extending their winning streak to seven games and clinching the top seed in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. The prediction hinges on another stellar performance from JuJu Watkins, who is expected to deliver a big fourth quarter and propel the Trojans to victory. The predicted final score is USC 75, UCLA 68.
The author also provided links to both UCLA’s and USC’s last five results, and their full 2024-2025 schedule, for fans looking to further research the teams.
