USC Women's Trojans Storm to NCAA Final Four Upset in LA Glory

LOS ANGELES -- In a nail-biting overtime thriller Saturday in Columbia, S.C., ninth-seeded USC women's basketball stunned eighth-seeded Clemson 71-67, punching their ticket to the NCAA Final Four. Freshman Jazzy Davidson erupted for 31 points in her tournament debut, sinking the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:03 left in overtime after a scramble off her own miss, where teammate Malia Samuels fed her for the decisive bucket.[2] The victory marks USC's deepest tournament run in years, captivating Southern California with echoes of past upsets like their 55-46 takedown of No. 2 Stanford in 2023, ending an eight-year drought against the Cardinal.[1] Back in Los Angeles, the Trojans' Cinderella surge has united fans from the Galen Center to beaches in Santa Monica. JuJu Watkins, USC's star guard, reflected on similar triumphs after a recent upset over No. 2 UCLA, fueling hopes for a Final Four clash.[5] With USC now among the elite -- facing powerhouses like UCLA in potential matchups -- California's Pac-12 rivalries add stakes, as the Bruins await in title contention after South Carolina's 62-48 revenge win over UConn.[3] This Final Four push revives USC's hoops legacy in a state dominated by UCLA and Stanford. The Trojans, who last beat a top-two foe in 2008 before the Stanford upset, now embody March Madness magic for Golden State faithful. As Los Angeles buzzes, Davidson's heroics position USC for a championship shot on May 4, 2026, spotlighting California's enduring women's basketball dominance.[1][2]