Where Does This Year’s USC Trojans Women’s Basketball Team Rank In Program History?

The USC Trojans have had many great women’s basketball teams over the years, this year included. In the 2024-25 season, they are currently 19-1.

Having been part of women’s college basketball since 1981, they’ve won two national championships and are in pursuit of a third this season.

Here, we are the five best teams in the program’s history.

Greatest USC Trojans Women’s Basketball Teams

2024-25: 19-1 And Counting

NCAA Womens Basketball: Penn St. at Southern California
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

This year’s team has been nothing short of dominant having only lost one game all season. Led by head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and sophomore sensation Juju Watkins, who is the third-best scorer in the country averaging 24.5 points per game on 44.7% from the field.

The Lady Trojans are on track to earn a number-one seed in the NCAA tournament in March.

As a team, Southern Cal ranks ninth in the country in scoring, averaging 83.7 points per game. On top of that, they have the highest point differential of any team, with their average margin of victory being 29 points per game.

Also Read: Surprise Elite Prospects Join USC Trojans Junior Day

Yes, it is against lesser competition but there are no apologies for dominating your opponents. Will this domination translate into a national championship?

1993-94: 26-4, Reached Regional Final

Cheryl Miller would become head coach in 1993. A dynamic duo would lead them all year: Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson.

The Trojans would take on a defensive identity during Miller’s tenure, as Leslie led the Pac-10 in total blocks (94), total rebounds (369), and total points (657).

Leslie averaged a double-double for the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds per game.

The USC Trojans started the season 17-1, finishing 23-3 and winning the Pac-10 conference. They would fall short of a Final Four appearance losing in the Elite Eight to Louisiana Tech. But, it was still one of the all-time great seasons in history.

1985-86: 31-5, National Championship Game Appearance

NCAA Womens Basketball: Washington at Southern California
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Although this team could not establish a dynasty and win a third national championship in four seasons, it was still an impressive season nonetheless as the USC Trojans reached the national championship game.

Once again, Cheryl Miller led the way, averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds in her senior season. She would win the Naismith Award as the best player in women’s college basketball.

The Trojans offense was once again dominant as they ranked third in scoring, averaging 88 points a game.

USC started the season winning 11 of their first 12 games. Unfortunately, two of their five losses on the season came against the same team: Texas. They lost to them 94-78 in the regular season and then the national championship game 97-81.

Despite the disappointing finish, Miller would finish her career at USC as one of the all-time greats in school history, later becoming the coach of the women’s basketball team in 1993.

1983-84: 29-4, National Champions

The USC Trojans would repeat as champions in the 1983 season, going 29-4. To date, it was the last time USC’s women’s basketball won the national championship.

The dynamic duo of Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Miller would return and the team picked up right where they left off, winning their first 10 games to start the season including wins over Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri. and Oregon.

For the season, Miller averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Pam McGee averaged 17 and 10.

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Despite enduring a brief three-game losing streak against Texas, Louisiana Tech, and Old Dominion, USC would win their next 14 games and wouldn’t lose again until their final game of the regular season against Long Beach State, finishing the regular season 24-4.

They once again steamrolled their way to the NCAA tournament. Facing off once again against Louisiana Tech in the Final Four, they would avenge their regular season defeat on their way to the national championship game against Tennessee.

The Lady Volunteers would give them a run for their money but the USC Trojans would prevail with a second-half comeback to win 72-61.

It was the first time a women’s college basketball team would repeat.

1982-83: 31–2, National Champions

In only their second season as a program, they left their mark in college basketball going 31-2 and winning the national championship.

At the time, the USC Trojans were part of the Western Collegiate Athletic Association, which would become the Pac-10. Linda Sharp was in her second season as head coach, and they would have two future superstars in the making: Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper.

As a freshman, Miller was named an All-American averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game during the year.

A pair of twins, Paula and Pam McGee were also major contributors, as they averaged 18 and 19 points per game respectively. Paula was also an All-American.

As a team, the USC Trojans averaged 85.8 points per game, which was third in the nation. They completely steamrolled through the regular season winning their first 13 games to begin the year.

In the NCAA tournament, they were extremely dominant led by Miller and the McGee sisters, and won their first three tournament games by an average of 20.2 points per game.

In the national championship game, they faced off against defending champion Louisiana Tech and would overcome an 11-point halftime deficit (37-26) to end up winning in a nailbiter, 69-67. Miller was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, scoring 27 points in the championship game.