The build up to any sports season usually includes nervousness and excitement, but one element all fans care about is expectations. Teams’ expectations for themselves fluctuate depending on several factors, but for USC women’s golf, Head Coach Justin Silverstein makes it simple:

“Things don’t really ever change here,” Silverstein said. “The expectation is to win every tournament we play in.”

That may be a high bar for some teams, but the Trojans don’t need to look any further than the last two years to figure out where they want to be at the end of May. With a runner-up finish to Wake Forest in 2023 followed by a semifinal appearance last season, USC expects to make deep postseason runs each year. And with the squad Silverstein’s assembled this year, the goals remain lofty.

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Despite star junior Amari Avery’s decision to turn pro and the graduation of seniors Brianna Navarrosa, Michaela Morard and Christine Wang, the Trojans quickly reloaded by signing highly touted freshmen Kylie Chong and Jasmine Koo.

Chong, hailing from Torrance, Calif., was the No. 14-ranked Girls Junior according to the American Junior Golf Association and has plenty of high-level experience under her belt.

Koo was even more highly regarded in the junior golf community, named the No. 1-ranked Girls Junior. Koo also posted strong results at professional events, namely when she finished No. 13 at the Chevron Championship — an LPGA major tournament — in April.

“[Playing in professional events] gives you a sense [that] you belong there,” Silverstein, who caddied for Catherine Park at the women’s U.S. Open, said. “It gives you a sense of belonging at that level when you perform that highly, but I think the most beneficial things from that week were being able to be there and look around … and watch what other Tour players were doing.”

With the professional experience gathered throughout the offseason combined with veteran leadership in Park and fellow senior Cindy Kou, the Trojans earned a preseason No. 3 ranking according to the GOLF Channel. USC only falls behind No. 1 Stanford — the reigning national champion — and No. 2 Texas.

Though Texas also boasts a strong squad this season, the Trojans have their eyes on their Northern Californian rivals at Stanford. USC has exchanged several battles with the Cardinal over the years, with USC coming out on top in their 2023 NCAA semifinal matchup and Stanford returning the favor the next year as they went on to win it all.

Though the postseason is over seven months away, the Trojans can make a statement this weekend at the Stanford Intercollegiate tournament on the Cardinal’s home golf course.

“It’s such a good college golf tournament [and] it’s a perfect college golf course to host the tournament,” Silverstein said. “It challenges all the things that are important in a college golfer’s game. [The] weather’s going to be good and I think it’s just a great measuring stick to find out where we’re at.”

The Trojans have already participated in the Leadership and Golf Invitational and the Windy City Classic, also their first two tournaments last year, but after some up-and-down early performances, USC is ready for another chance to prove itself against a solid field at a fair Stanford Golf Course.

Silverstein said that one of the most significant takeaways from the first two tournaments came from Chicago, where Park was not performing like usual. The Trojans still battled against a stacked field and finished third, signaling that USC possesses golfers who can pick up the slack when others are having off days.

The Trojans have begun to establish their baseline after the season’s first month. Now, they’ll travel north and face yet another competitive field, this time with both teams ranked higher than them scheduled to attend.

“I think they think they have a lot to prove,” Silverstein said. “We’re excited to get up there and see what we got.”

The Trojans are set to tee off at the Stanford Intercollegiate tournament at Stanford Golf Course Friday.