USC Trojans women's basketball

Last updated
USC Trojans Women's Basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 USC Trojans women's basketball team
USC Trojans logo.svg
University University of Southern California
All-time record847–560 (.602)
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (4th season)
Conference Big Ten
Location Los Angeles, California
Arena Galen Center
(capacity: 10,258)
Nickname Trojans
Women of Troy
ColorsCardinal and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament champions
1983, 1984
NCAA tournament runner-up
1986
NCAA tournament Final Four
1983, 1984, 1986
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1994, 2024
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2024
NCAA tournament second round
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025
AIAW tournament Final Four
1981
AIAW tournament appearances
1980, 1981
Conference tournament champions
2014, 2024
Conference regular season champions
Pac-12: 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1994

Big Ten: 2025

The USC Trojans women's basketball team, or the Women of Troy, is the collegiate women's basketball team that represents the University of Southern California, in the Big Ten Conference. The team rose to prominence in 1976, at which time scholarships became available to female basketball players. They were the first Division I team to give these scholarships.

Contents

History

The Women of Troy made their first appearance in the Final Four in the 1981 AIAW Tournament. Following the successful 1982 season, in which USC reached the Elite Eight of the first NCAA tournament, the Trojans went on to win national championships in 1983 and 1984. The 1983 championship team included three All-Americans, Paula McGee, Cheryl Miller, and Rhonda Windham. The 1983 team went 31–2 in the regular and post-season combined. The 1983 team bested their opponent, Louisiana Tech, by a mere 2 points. The final score was 69–67. The 1984 championship team went 29–4 in the regular and post season. The 1984 team faced University of Tennessee. The victory this year came by a healthy eleven points. The final score was 72–61. USC made the National Championship again in 1986 but did not prevail. They lost to University of Texas 97–81. They since have yet to appear in the National Championship.

In 1987 and 1994 the Trojans won the Pac-10 Championship. The Trojans had begun their longest playoff drought in 1998, which was broken when the team made it to the playoff bracket in 2005. Not until 2011 did the Trojans make it to the postseason again. In 2006 USC opened the Galen Center, which was the new home of the Women of Troy. It can seat over 10,000 fans, and it was sold out in 2007 for a game between the Trojans and the UCLA Bruins. It was the first time in history that an NCAA women's basketball game was sold out. Every year since 1986, at least one member of the Trojans team has been honored in the Pac-10 awards. To date, eleven players who played for USC have won Olympic medals. [2]

Given USC's early and iconic development of women's basketball, the legacy was featured in an HBO documentary entitled "Women of Troy," which premiered on March 10, 2020. [3]

Notable players

Head coaches

Arenas

Roster

2024–25 USC Trojans women's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F 0Vivian Iwuchukwu6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)Fr Montverde Academy Imo State, NG
G 3Aaliyah Gayles5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)RS So Spring Valley HS Las Vegas, NV
G 4Rian Forestier5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)Fr Louis D. Brandeis HS San Antonio, TX
F 6Laura Williams6 ft 1 in(1.85 m)Fr St. Paul VI Catholic HS Fairfax, VA
G 9Kayleigh Heckel5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)Fr Long Island Lutheran HS Port Chester, NY
G 10Malia Samuels5 ft 6 in(1.68 m)So Garfield HS Seattle, WA
G 11Kennedy Smith6 ft 1 in(1.85 m)Fr Etiwanda HS Chino, CA
G 12JuJu Watkins6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)So Sierra Canyon HS Los Angeles, CA
G/F 13Rayah Marshall6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)Sr Lynwood HS Los Angeles, CA
G 21Dominique Darius5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)RS Jr UCLA Jacksonville, FL
G 23Avery Howell6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)Fr Boise HS Boise, ID
G 24Brooklyn Shamblin5 ft 8 in(1.73 m)Fr Oaks Christian School Carpinteria, CA
C 34Clarice Akunwafo6 ft 6 in(1.98 m)SrRolling Hills Prep Inglewood, CA
G 44Kiki Iriafen6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)Sr Stanford Los Angeles, CA
G 55Talia von Oelhoffen5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)Sr Oregon State Tri-Cities, WA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 5, 2023

Year by year results

SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseasonCoaches' pollAP poll
Marci Cantrell (Independent, WCAA, Pac-8)(1976–1977)
1976–77Marci Cantrell 5–161–74th (WCAA)
Marci Cantrell:5–161–7
Linda Sharp (Independent, WCAA, Pac-10)(1977–1989)
1977–78Linda Sharp 11–133–54th (WCAA)
1978–79Linda Sharp 21–104–43rdWAIAW
1979–80Linda Sharp 22–129–33rdAIAW First round
1980–81Linda Sharp 26–89–31stAIAW Fourth Place4
1981–82Linda Sharp 23–49–32ndNCAA Elite Eight6
1982–83Linda Sharp 31–213–11stNCAA Champions1
1983–84Linda Sharp 29–413–11stNCAA Champions5
1984–85Linda Sharp 21–910–42ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen15
1985–86Linda Sharp 31–58–01stNCAA Runner-up23
Pac-12 Conference
1986–87Linda Sharp 22–815–31st (Pac-12)NCAA Sweet Sixteen1419
1987–88Linda Sharp 22–815–32ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen1315
1988–89Linda Sharp 12–168–10T-4th
Linda Sharp:271–99116–40
Marianne Stanley (Pac-10)(1989–1993)
1989–90Marianne Stanley 8–196–127th
1990–91Marianne Stanley 18–1211–73rdNCAA Second round (Play-In)
1991–92Marianne Stanley 23–814–42ndNCAA Elite Eight1223
1992–93Marianne Stanley 22–714–42ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen1415
Marianne Stanley:71–4645–27
Cheryl Miller (Pac-10)(1993–1995)
1993–94Cheryl Miller 26–416–21stNCAA Elite Eight97
1994–95Cheryl Miller 18–1010–85thNCAA First round
Cheryl Miller:44–1426–10
Fred Williams (Pac-10)(1995–1997)
1995–96Fred Williams 13–148–10T-6th
1996–97Fred Williams 20–913–53rdNCAA Second round
Fred Williams:33–2321–15
Chris Gobrecht (Pac-10)(1997–2004)
1997–98Chris Gobrecht 12–157–116th
1998–99Chris Gobrecht 7–203–15T-9th
1999–2000Chris Gobrecht 16–1410–8T-5thWNIT Sixteen
2000–01Chris Gobrecht 13–158–10T-6th
2001–02Chris Gobrecht 16–1411–7T-4thWNIT Sixteen
2002–03Chris Gobrecht 14–178–10T-5th
2003–04Chris Gobrecht 15–1311–7T-3rd
Chris Gobrecht:93–10858–68
Mark Trakh (Pac-10)(2004–2009)
2004–05Mark Trakh 20–1112–6T-2ndNCAA Second round22
2005–06Mark Trakh 19–1211–74thNCAA Second round
2006–07Mark Trakh 17–1310–85th
2007–08Mark Trakh 17–1310–84th
2008–09Mark Trakh 17–159–9T-4th
Mark Trakh:90–6452–38
Michael Cooper (Pac-10, Pac-12)(2009–2013)
2009–10Michael Cooper 19–1212–63rd
2010–11Michael Cooper 24–1310–84thWNIT Runner-up
2011–12Michael Cooper 18–1212–63rd
2012–13Michael Cooper 11–207–117th
Michael Cooper:72–5741–31
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (Pac-12)(2013–2017)
2013–14Cynthia Cooper-Dyke 22–1311–7T-4thNCAA First round
2014–15Cynthia Cooper-Dyke 15–157–11T-7th
2015–16Cynthia Cooper-Dyke 19–136–128th
2016–17Cynthia Cooper-Dyke 14–165–139th
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke:70–5729–43
Mark Trakh (Pac-12)(2017–2021)
2017–18Mark Trakh 19–109–97th
2018–19Mark Trakh 17–137–11T-8th
2019–20Mark Trakh 17–148–107thPostseason canceled due to COVID-19; WNIT bid was expected
2020–21Mark Trakh 11–128–108th
Mark Trakh:65–50 (155–114)32–40 (84–78)
Lindsay Gottlieb (Pac-12)(2021–2024)
2021–22Lindsay Gottlieb 12–165–1210th
2022–23Lindsay Gottlieb 21–1011–7T-4thNCAA First Round
2023–24Lindsay Gottlieb 29–613–5T-2nd NCAA Elite Eight
Lindsay Gottlieb (Big Ten)(2024–present)
2024–25Lindsay Gottlieb 26–216–11st
Lindsay Gottlieb:88–3445–25
Total:876–563

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason results

NCAA Division I

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1982 #1First round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#8 Kent State
#4 Penn State
#2 Tennessee
W 99−55
W 73–70
L 90–91 (OT)
1983 #1First round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game
#8 NE Louisiana
#4 Arizona State
#2 Long Beach State
#2 Georgia
#1 Louisiana Tech
W 99−85
W 96–59
W 81–74
W 81–57
W 69–67
1984 #1First round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game
#8 BYU
#4 Montana
#2 Long Beach State
#1 Louisiana Tech
#3 Tennessee
W 97−72
W 76–51
W 90–74
W 62–57
W 72–61
1985 #4First round
Sweet Sixteen
#5 Idaho
#1 Long Beach State
W 74−51
L 72–75
1986 #1Second round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game
#8 Montana
#4 North Carolina
#2 Louisiana Tech
#4 Tennessee
#1 Texas
W 81−50
W 84–70
W 80–64
W 83–59
L 81–97
1987 #3Second round
Sweet Sixteen
#6 Western Kentucky
#2 Ohio State
W 81−69
L 63–74
1988 #4Second round
Sweet Sixteen
#5 Nebraska
#1 Iowa
W 100−82
L 67–79
1991 #5First round
Second round
#12 Utah
#4 Long Beach State
W 63−52
L 58–83
1992 #3Second round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#11 Montana
#2 Stephen F. Austin
#1 Stanford
W 71−59
W 61–57
L 62–82
1993 #3Second round
Sweet Sixteen
#6 Nebraska
#2 Texas Tech
W 78−60
L 67–87
1994 #2First round
Second round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#15 Portland
#7 George Washington
#3 Virginia
#4 Louisiana Tech
W 77−62
W 76–72
W 85–66
L 66–75
1995 #9First round#8 MemphisL 72–74
1997 #6First round
Second round
#11 San Francisco
#3 Florida
W 68−55
L 78–92
2005 #8First round
Second round
#9 Louisville
#1 Michigan State
W 65−49
L 59–61
2006 #8First round
Second round
#9 South Florida
#1 Duke
W 67−65
L 51–85
2014 #9First round#8 St. John'sL 68–71
2023 #8First round#9 South Dakota StateL 57–62 OT
2024 #1First round
Second round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#16 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
#8 Kansas
#5 Baylor
#3 UConn
W 84−55
W 73−55
W 74−70
L 73–80
2025 #1First round#16 UNC GreensboroTBD

AIAW Division I

The Trojans made two appearances in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 2–3.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1980 First round South Carolina L, 60–81
1981 Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Third-place game
Oregon
Cheyney State
Louisiana Tech
Old Dominion
W, 67–64
W, 67–58
L, 50–66
L, 65–68

Awards and achievements

Retired numbers

USC Trojans retired numbers
No.PlayerYear retired
11 Paula McGee 2012
14 Tina Thompson 2019
30 Pamela McGee 2012
31 Cheryl Miller 2006
33 Lisa Leslie 2006
44 Cynthia Cooper 2019

Career leaders

RankPoints3-pt FGsReboundsAssistsStealsBlocks
1.3,018 - Cheryl Miller
1982–86
292 - Ashley Corral
2009–12
1,534 - Cheryl Miller
1982–86
735 - Rhonda Windham
1983–87
462 - Cheryl Miller
1982–86
321 - Lisa Leslie
1990–94
2.2,474 - Cherie Nelson
1986–88
213 - Courtney Jaco
2014–17
1,255 -Pam McGee
1981-84
473 -Thera Smith
1979–82
309 - Tammy Story
1998-2002
320 - Cheryl Miller
1982–86
3.2,414 - Lisa Leslie
1990–94
183 - Brynn Cameron
2004–09
1,232 - Cherie Nelson
1986-89
466 -Camille Lenoir
2004–09
256 - Cynthia Cooper
1982-86
190 - Paula McGee
1981-84
4.2,346 - Paula McGee
1981-84
181 - Eshaya Murphy
2004–07
1,214 - Lisa Leslie
1990–94
466 - Ashley Corral
2009-12
249 - Ebony Hoffman
2001–04
168 - Briana Gilbreath
2009-12
5.2,248 -Tina Thompson
1993-97
177 - Aliyah Mazyck
2015–2019
1,168 - Tina Thompson
1993-97
450 - Minyon Moore
2016–19
248 - Paula McGee
1981–84
162 - Michelle Campbell
1993-97
6.2,214 - Pam McGee
1981–84
154 - Camille Lenoir
2004–09
1,155 - Paula McGee
1981–84
422 - Tammy Story
1989–92
241 - Briana Gilbreath
2009-–12
139 - Chloe Kerr
2004-07
7.1,832 - Cassie Harberts
2011–14
138 - Ariya Crook
2012–14
1,003 - Ebony Hoffman
2001–04
417 - Jamie Hagiya
2004–07
234 -Eshaya Murphy
2004–07
122 - Ebony Hoffman
2001-04
8.1,797- Kathy Hammond
1978-81
132 - Jamie Hagiya
2004–07
925- Cassie Harberts
2011–14
414 - Cheryl Miller
1982–86
228 - Lisa Leslie
1990-94
119 -Pam McGee
1982-84
9.1,687 - Ebony Hoffman
2001–04
118- Heather Oliver
2007-10
917- Kristen Simon
2014-18
395 - Brianna Barrett
2013-16
221-Minyon Moore
2016-19
110 - Nadia Parker
2006-09
10.1,608 - Briana Gilbreath
2009–12
110 - Tammy Story
1989-92
813 - Briana Gilbreath
2009–12
381 - Cynthia Cooper
1982-86
218-Karon Howell
1986-89
109 - Cherie Nelson
1986-99

References

  1. "USC Athletics Brand And Identity System Evolves". USCTrojans.com. April 15, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2011-12WBBpp69-100.pdf (2012). "Women of Troy History,"
  3. "Women of Troy". HBO. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  4. 1 2 3 "Women of Troy In the Pros". University of Southern California. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  5. "Cynthia Cooper Returns to Comets". WNBA.com. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  6. 1 2 "Cynthia Cooper-Dyke Bio". CBSi Advanced Media. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  7. "Lisa Leslie.biography". A+E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  8. "Lisa Leslie Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story". Biography.com. 1972-07-07. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  9. 1 2 "Cheryl Miller". NBA Hoopedia. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  10. "Cheryl Miller Resigns as USC Coach". Los Angeles Times. 1995-09-16. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  11. "Tina Thompson". ©2013 Goodwin Sports Management, Inc. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  12. "SPARKS: Sparks Sign Olympian & WNBA Veteran Tina Thompson". Wnba.com. 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  13. "USC Trojans". NBA Hoopedia. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  14. "Trakh returns to USC". Swish Appeal. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  15. "Cooper-Dyke resigns as USC basketball coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  16. "Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena". NBA Hoopedia. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  17. "Galen Center". NBA Hoopedia. Retrieved 29 April 2013.