Things weren’t going too well for USC in their first matchup against UCLA in December. The top 10 rivalry game was physical, the Trojans were trailing, and emotions were running high when center Clarice Akunwafo was called for a foul. Incensed, she yelled in frustration.
With a few quick steps, McKenzie Forbes was in front of her teammate looking up, and into her eyes.
“You’re fine,” the graduate senior forward told her with emphasis.
As Forbes continued talking, Akunwafo’s shoulders relaxed, and tension on the court evaporated.
In any game, Forbes has numerous such stops. She may coach up her teammates; she will give props or pointers to the underclassmen, including freshman phenom JuJu Watkins. Forbes also takes the initiative to ask coach Lindsay Gottlieb what changes she might want to see.
These qualities, as well as Forbes’ ability to fill up the stat sheet, have been one of the reasons USC quickly elevated from an unranked position to begin the season, to the top 10, her coach said.
“She can play the 3 or the 4, she knows everyone’s spot, she’s super-confident,” Gottlieb said. “She’s mature….she has a really good way with her teammates, and she’s a good…
