AP Top 25: Freshman Jazzy Davidson already looking like a star at USC with JuJu Watkins out

One of the biggest questions heading into this women’s college basketball season was how would USC play without JuJu Watkins? The 2025 Player of the Year led the Trojans to so much success last season before she tore her ACL in the second round of the NCAA tournament. USC had, quite reasonably, built their team around Watkins, and it wasn’t clear how they would play without her.

Another question for USC was how quickly they could count on freshman Jazzy Davidson. She came into the season as one of the most-touted recruits in the country, but still, she was a freshman. The transition to college ball can be tough for even the best players, and no one would have been shocked if Davidson took some time finding her confidence.

USC faced NC State on Sunday, a tough early-season matchup for the Trojans. Davidson started, and was tentative early on. But as the game went on, she clearly became more comfortable. USC coach Lindsey Gottlieb kept the freshman on the court for 35 minutes. Davidson started hitting 3s in the second half, going 3 for 9 from behind the arc. Her biggest moment was still to come, though.

With 10 seconds left in the game, NC State was up by one point. Davidson caught a pass from Kennedy Smith and calmly cut to the basket to make the layup and put the Trojans up. The team’s defense held and USC got the upset win, 69-68.

Davidson finished the game with 21 points, 5 blocks and 3 steals, and showed that she’s already becoming the player USC needs now. She’s only played two games — scoring 14 points in USC’s win over New Mexico State) — but what we’ve seen so far has to give Trojans fans plenty to get excited about. 

And you won’t have to wait long to see Davidson face another test. USC will face South Carolina on Saturday in the battle for “The real SC.”

Games of the Week – No. 3 UCLA’s busy week

The Bruins have not shied away from putting together a tough schedule early in the season. After warming up with wins over San Diego State and UC-Santa Barbara, UCLA will welcome the sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to California as the two teams face off in Sacramento on Monday night. The matchup between OU’s Raegan Beers and UCLA’s Sienna Betts should be a battle in the paint, and it’s one we could see again come tournament time. The Bruins will then head to Las Vegas on Thursday for the WBCA Challenge. There, they’ll face No. 11 UNC and the Tar Heels’ balanced scoring attack. After these two games, basketball fans should know if UCLA is headed for another Final Four run.

Player of the Week: Azzi Fudd, UConn

With Paige Bueckers graduated and making waves in her first season in the WNBA, UConn is now Azzi Fudd’s team. Expectations are high as UConn tries to repeat for the first time since the Huskies won four in a row from 2013-2016. She’s easily taken on that role in her first two games as UConn beat Louisville and Florida State. Fudd scored 20 points against the Cardinals and 23 against the Seminoles. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma has pushed her to be more aggressive on defense. She had three rebounds against Florida State in 21 minutes, which is higher than her career average. Auriemma quipped that he can’t complain about her rebounding now.

AP Top 25

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. UCLA
4. Texas
5. LSU
6. Oklahoma
7. Baylor
8. USC
9. Maryland
10. NC State
11. North Carolina
12. Tennessee
13. Ole Miss
14. Michigan
15. Duke
16. Iowa State
17. TCU
18. Notre Dame
19. Vanderbilt
20. Oklahoma State
21. Iowa
22. Louisville
23. Kentucky
24. Michigan State
25. Washington