After UCLA took the lead early in the third quarter of their Feb. 13 matchup with the Trojans, all of Galen Center was on its feet. Facing the then-unbeaten No. 1 Bruins, USC felt the pressure well into the quarter as the Bruins held onto a six-point lead. It seemed as if the Bruins would continue undefeated, trampling the Trojans on their way. 

But, just as the momentum seemed to have shifted, a steal by sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and her corresponding bucket on the fast break put USC back in it. The Trojans were back on top and kept on climbing, ultimately pulling away with an 11-point victory over UCLA. Watkins raised the Trojan sword in triumph while USC fans roared. 

In the biggest win at Galen Center this season, then-No. 6 USC beat then-No. 1 UCLA, ruining the Bruins’ unbeaten season while simultaneously proving themselves against top competition. Now, as No. 4 USC (25-2, 15-1 Big Ten) travels to Westwood for a rematch against No. 2 UCLA (28-1, 16-1) at Pauley Pavilion, the Trojans hope for a repeat performance, utilizing intense defense to keep the Bruins quiet.

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This iteration of the Battle of Los Angeles has repercussions beyond just the glory of “running” the city: Both teams are vying for the Big Ten regular season title. A win, on the last day of the regular season, will award the title to either the Trojans or the Bruins in their inaugural Big Ten seasons. 

The matchup also has potential NCAA tournament seeding implications. ESPN’s bracketology currently projects UCLA to be awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while USC is projected to receive a No. 2 seed. This could change for both teams based on the outcome of their head-to-head matchup. 

Watkins said, however, that with postseason elimination games coming up, the Trojans cannot be worried about seeding. 

“We don’t really pay much attention to rankings, because I don’t think that matters now,” Watkins said. “It’s one game, and you’re one and done.” 

In USC’s last game against the Bruins, Watkins showcased her star power, scoring 38 points, gathering 11 rebounds and recording a career-high eight blocks to drive the Trojans on both ends of the court. 

In comparison, Watkins’ star teammates, such as graduate forward Kiki Iriafen, notched low point tallies. Iriafen was the second highest scorer for the Trojans, scoring only 13 points in the UCLA game. 

Watkins’ prowess, especially in the strength of her performances in big moments like the Trojans’ win against UCLA, demonstrates leadership and maturity even as a sophomore. 

“She’s so committed to getting better,” said Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a player just look as inward of ‘What can I do to help make myself better and the team better?’” 

USC will need another deep game from her, along with help from her teammates if they want to go for the sweep against UCLA in the regular season. 

Another undeniable standout for the Trojans was senior center Clarice Akunwafo, who held UCLA’s star junior center Lauren Betts to just 18 points that night. Betts, who leads the Bruins with 20 points per game, has been seemingly inevitable in the paint offensively for UCLA. However, Akunwafo kept her relatively quiet, a feat compared to Betts’ most recent 26-point performance against Wisconsin (13-15, 4-13). 

The Trojans hope to rely on Akunwafo again, and senior center Rayah Marshall also plans to elevate her defensive performance and make things difficult for Betts. 

“That’s a big part of my game plan individually, being a defensive threat to [Betts] and [UCLA] and their game plan,” Marshall said. 

Also important for the Bruins is junior guard Kiki Rice who scored 15 points against the Trojans. Rice, who is averaging 12.8 points, is also a playmaker for UCLA, averaging 4.4 assists with six against USC. 

Now, as the Bruins and Trojans face off in their second match of the season, USC and UCLA must make fresh adjustments, hoping for a scoreline in their favor. The crosstown rivals will face off this Saturday at Pauley Pavilion at 6 p.m.