IN PICS: JuJu Watkins, HC Lindsay Gottlieb, and more pose with special rings to commemorate USC's historic season

JuJu Watkins showcased her exceptional talent once again by leading No. 4 USC to a decisive 78-58 victory over No. 23 Michigan in their Big Ten home opener. Watkins delivered a stellar all-around performance, recording 31 points while making 13 of 14 free throws. She added five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks to her stat line.

Besides the action on the court, USC Women’s Basketball also celebrated a major milestone. Members of the 2023-24 squad received commemorative championship rings to mark their historic season, which included winning a conference championship and advancing to the Elite Eight. The celebration was highlighted on the team’s official Instagram account, which shared pictures and videos from the event. The post was captioned:

“Ring us! Last night, members of our historic 2023-24 squad received their rings to celebrate our conference championship and Elite 8 run 💍”

The dazzling gold-and-silver rings bore engravings of "SC" and "Pac-12 Champions." Among the series, there is a video showcasing the joy and excitement of the players and staff as they receive their rings.

Turning back to the game, Kiki Iriafen complemented Watkins’ efforts by contributing 18 points. Together, Watkins and Iriafen dominated the fourth quarter, scoring USC’s first 16 points and helping the Trojans outscore Michigan 21-9 in the final frame. The victory improved USC’s record to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Before JuJu Watkin's hit game, Lindsay Gottlieb showcased her quick wit in an interview

Earlier this week, during a game against No. 7 UConn, Lindsay Gottlieb delivered an in-game interview. In a matchup widely considered a potential Final Four preview, the Trojans started strong, building a commanding 44-29 lead at halftime. By the third quarter, USC was ahead 51-33, but UConn mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 55-49 entering the final period.

Before the fourth quarter began, Fox’s Allison Williams conducted an in-game interview with Gottlieb. When asked how she planned to address UConn’s momentum, Gottlieb drew inspiration from legendary NBA coach Gregg Popovich and remarked:

“These in-game interviews are interesting. I’m gonna do my best Coach Pop and ‘Stop turning the thing over.’ We gotta take care of the ball.”

Despite UConn briefly taking the lead in the fourth quarter, USC regained control and emerged victorious with a 72-70 win.