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. 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.

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. 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.

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.