USC Women's Basketball Advances in NCAA Tournament

Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb praises team's effort in overtime victory over Clemson

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The USC women's basketball team defeated Clemson 71-67 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised her team's defensive effort and culture, noting that the win was impressive given the Trojans were playing without star player Juju Watkins. USC will now face top-seeded South Carolina in the second round on Monday.

Why it matters

This victory is a significant accomplishment for the USC women's basketball program, as they have now advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. Despite facing adversity without their best player, the Trojans were able to grind out a tough overtime win, showcasing the strong culture and resilience of the team.

The details

In the first-round matchup, USC and Clemson battled through regulation tied at 63-63 before the Trojans pulled away in overtime to win 71-67. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised the defensive effort of her team, saying they "played their tails off on defense the whole game." She also credited the work of Clemson head coach Shawn Poppie in getting the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • USC will face South Carolina in the second round on Monday, March 24, 2026.

The players

Lindsay Gottlieb

The head coach of the USC women's basketball team, who led the Trojans to victory over Clemson in the NCAA Tournament.

Juju Watkins

The star player for USC who did not play in the game against Clemson due to an unspecified reason.

Shawn Poppie

The head coach of the Clemson women's basketball team, who Gottlieb praised for the work he has done in getting the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That was a great NCAA Tournament game. First off, the work that Coach [Shawn] Poppie has done at Clemson to get them back in the tournament — we knew they were a good team and it would be a battle.”

— Lindsay Gottlieb, Head Coach, USC Women's Basketball

“For us, it was a real culture win. We played our tails off on defense the whole game . . . really excited to still be playing.”

— Lindsay Gottlieb, Head Coach, USC Women's Basketball

What’s next

USC will face top-seeded South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2026. The Trojans will be heavy underdogs against the Gamecocks, but a victory would be a major upset and advancement to the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

This NCAA Tournament win showcases the strong culture and resilience of the USC women's basketball program, as they were able to grind out a tough overtime victory over Clemson despite playing without their star player Juju Watkins. The Trojans' ability to win a high-stakes tournament game without their best player is a testament to the depth and determination of the team.