The Women of Troy have locked in a rigorous 18‑game Big Ten conference schedule for the 2026‑27 campaign, a slate that blends familiar rivalries with fresh challenges. Home games will feature Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota and Nebraska, while the team will hit the road to face Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, Washington and Oregon.
Conference matchups
The home‑and‑home series with UCLA remains a centerpiece of the schedule, underscoring the historic rivalry that draws statewide attention. Each conference opponent brings a distinct style of play, promising a season filled with strategic adjustments and competitive fire.
Non‑conference showdowns
Outside the Big Ten, USC will test itself against two elite programs. The first test arrives on November 2 in Las Vegas, where the Trojans meet UNLV, followed by a November 15 trip to Columbia to take on South Carolina, a perennial powerhouse in the SEC.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, now in her second season, will rely on a core group of eight returning players. Guard JuJu Watkins headlines the roster, complemented by international prospect Sitaya Fagan and a trio of top‑10 high school recruits. The class also includes transfer additions Ryann Bennett, Brooklyn Shamblin, Rian Forestier, Kennedy Smith, Jazzy Davidson, Saniya Hall, Laura Williams, Sara Okeke and Pania Davis, all of whom are expected to contribute immediately.
The team finished the previous season with an 18‑14 overall record and a 9‑9 mark in conference play, dropping two of three postseason games, including a first‑round loss in the Big Ten tournament and a blowout defeat in the NCAA tournament. Despite those setbacks, the returning nucleus and the added talent have generated optimism that the Trojans can contend for a deeper tournament run.