While the 2025-2026 season ended with a bitter pill for USC fans—watching rival UCLA cut down the nets as national champions—the focus has already shifted to a brighter future. In a stunning projection, USA Today's way-too-early top 25 for the 2026-2027 season has placed the USC Trojans squarely at No. 1, signaling a tidal wave of expectation for the Women of Troy.

This optimism stems from a roster that looks formidable on paper. The cornerstone is the anticipated return of superstar JuJu Watkins, a two-time All-American and former National Player of the Year whose 2025 tournament was cut short by injury. She'll be joined by a core that includes National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson, defensive standout Kennedy Smith, and the nation's top incoming recruit, Saniyah Hall. This collection of talent represents arguably USC's most promising squad in decades.

For head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, the mission is clear: translate this elite potential into historic results. The ultimate goal will be to end a long-standing drought and guide the program to its first Final Four since 1986. While rankings in the offseason are about potential, the Trojans have all the pieces to turn that potential into a championship-contending reality, making the upcoming season one of the most anticipated in recent memory for women's college basketball.