Women’s College Basketball Game of the Week: No. 3 USC vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

Two of college basketball’s best clash this weekend when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to face the USC Trojans.

The game is a must-watch as it is the first matchup between star sophomores and First-Team All-Americans JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are off to a surging start scoring 90 plus points in each of their first four games, averaging 97.5 points per game.

Reigning ACC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo has picked up right where she left off. The sophomore guard leads the team with 25 points per game and a nation-high 5.25 steals per game.

The difference between this year and last is that Hidalgo now gets to share the floor with senior guard Olivia Miles.

Miles missed all of last year with an injury, paving the way for Hidalgo to have a career season. Now that Miles is back the Notre Dame offense got much more lethal.

Miles returned to South Bend in style, recording a 20-point triple-double in the season opener against Mercyhurst. The Phillipsburg, New Jersey native is averaging 18.3 points throughout the first four games this season.

The impressive Irish offensive résumé continues as they have four other players averaging double-digit points.

Six-foot-five freshman Katie Koval has already proven to be a tough task inside the paint during her short time as a college player. However, Koval will have her hands full against USC’s star forward Kiki Iriafen.

Sonia Citron was a key part of Notre Dame’s Sweet 16 run a season ago and will have to step up in a big test against the Trojans.

The final piece of the puzzle for the Irish will be Pittsburgh graduate transfer Liatu King. King has gotten off to a soaring start in South Bend, already recording two double-doubles in three games played this season.

If Notre Dame’s key pieces come together then they can beat just about anybody.

USC

Moving away from cold Indiana and making way to bright and sunny southern California, The Women of Troy have started off strong this season at 4-0 and averaging 90.8 points per game.

Led by a 6-foot-2 sophomore wing JuJu Watkins and 6-foot-3 graduate transfer forward Kiki Iriafen the Trojans currently sit at No.3 in both the Top 25 and coaches poll. Watkins currently leads The Trojans in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game, while Iriafen leads the team in rebounds.

The Trojans faced a difficult season opener against Ole Miss escaping with a two-point win, however, besides that, the team has dominated all their opponents thus far.

They are currently in a prime position to repeat another Elite Eight appearance this season and are even more likely to break into the Final Four.

The difference this season is the addition of Iriafen to the team's roster and the experience that has been gained by JuJu Watkins. Iriafen has added some much-needed experience to USC’s game, allowing the team to make it count when it matters most, like during their win against Ole Miss.

Watkins has come into her sophomore season, after an impressive debut season in 2023-24. Now back after a tough season-ending loss last season, Watkins has been able to play with extraordinary players such as Paige Bueckers and Caitlyn Clark, only allowing her to gain experience that has already shown through in the first four games of this season.

While Notre Dame's starting five has raised some concerns for The Trojans, this USC team has proven they are able to contend with a Top 25 opponent, something Notre Dame has yet to face this season.

If USC continues to utilize this new power duo between Watkins and Iriafen, while playing to the rest of their roster's strengths, another win is sure to be achieved.

While there is no doubt that both teams host impressive resumes and vastly different strengths and weaknesses, one thing is for certain: This is not a game to miss.

Brooke Casey is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email bec5457@psu.edu.

Gianna Dowling is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email gmd5738@psu.edu.