LOS ANGELES — For the first time in history, No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 USC met as top-five teams in their regular-season finale in Pauley Pavilion.
On top of that, Saturday’s matchup would likely decide the Big Ten player of the year between the Bruins’ Lauren Betts and the Trojans’ JuJu Watkins, each of whom are in the running for national player of the year. Furthermore, the game was a winner-take-all showdown for the Big Ten regular-season title in the two programs’ first year in their new conference. UCLA’s last regular-season crown came in 1999 while USC last won in 1994.
The stakes have never been higher for this women’s basketball rivalry. And for the fourth consecutive time in this series, it was the Trojans who rose to meet the moment.
USC came into enemy territory with a purpose, building an early lead and never falling behind in a 80-67 win. Once again, it was Watkins who set the tone, putting up 13 points in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer on the opening possession. Even after the Bruins narrowed an 11-point lead to three, Watkins responded with 10 more in the second period as the Trojans took a 14-point advantage into halftime.
LIFT THAT TROPHY COACH!!!! pic.twitter.com/xh49hrjpAi
— USC Women’s Basketball (@USCWBB) March 2, 2025
UCLA cut the…
