Inside the Gym: USC Women's Basketball Is Building With Length, Speed and Versatility

By Kiera Baker | KST Media
College Basketball • Women's Basketball • USC

There is plenty of excitement surrounding USC women’s basketball as the Women of Troy prepare for a new season.

During a recent visit to USC women’s basketball practice, I had an opportunity to get an inside look at the team and speak with head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, associate head coach Beth Burns and Pania Davis about a roster that blends returning talent, highly regarded freshmen and international experience.

As a former collegiate basketball player, practices are familiar territory for me. But experiencing one as a journalist offers a different perspective. Instead of preparing to step onto the court, I’m watching the details — how players communicate, how coaches teach and what could ultimately shape the identity of a team.

And after watching USC practice and talking with members of the program, a few things stood out.

Length. Speed. Versatility.

Those qualities could become defining characteristics for the Women of Troy this season.

A New Chapter With JuJu Watkins Back

One of the biggest storylines surrounding USC is the return of JuJu Watkins, who is back healthy after being sidelined by injury last season.

Watkins' return adds another dynamic piece to a USC roster that also features established players and an influx of young talent.

But this season isn't only about who's returning.

It's also about who's arriving.

USC has welcomed a highly regarded freshman group, giving Gottlieb and her staff another collection of talented players to develop and incorporate into the program.

During my conversation with Gottlieb, I asked what excites her most about the freshman class.

She pointed to the individuality of the players and the different abilities each one brings to the program.

According to Gottlieb, all three freshmen have their own gifts and talents and have the potential to make an immediate impact.

But there are also qualities that connect them.

Versatility. Size. Length.

Those characteristics fit naturally with the style USC appears positioned to play.

For Gottlieb, the possibilities for the group extend well beyond their first season.

“The sky is the limit,” she said of the class, adding that each player has an opportunity to make a name for herself.

For a team incorporating several new faces, that's significant. USC doesn't necessarily have to wait years for this group to develop before seeing results.

The freshmen have an opportunity to contribute now.

A Roster Built Differently

One of the things that stood out during practice was the makeup of USC's roster.

The Women of Troy are guard-heavy, but that doesn't mean they lack size or length.

Instead, USC has the potential to use versatile players across multiple positions — athletes capable of creating different matchups offensively while also giving the coaching staff options on the defensive end.

That's where another part of this team's identity becomes particularly interesting.

The defense.

It's something I don't think is being talked about enough.

“Length Is Disruptive”

When I spoke with associate head coach Beth Burns, our conversation turned to USC's defensive versatility.

Her assessment was simple.

“Length is disruptive.”

That philosophy could be especially important for a roster built around speed and versatility.

“We might not be the biggest, but we're gonna be fast and we're gonna be long,” Burns said.

That combination has the potential to create problems.

Length can disrupt passing lanes. Speed can increase ball pressure and recovery. Versatile defenders can allow a team to switch assignments and present different looks throughout a game.

And when those qualities are combined with the offensive talent USC possesses, defense could become one of the most intriguing parts of this team.

It's easy to focus on who can score.

After seeing USC up close, I'm just as interested in seeing who they can stop.

Pania Davis: Carrying Home With Her

USC's roster also reflects how international college basketball has become.

Several players bring international backgrounds to the program, and I had an opportunity to speak with Pania Davis about hers.

Davis is from Perth, Western Australia, and during our conversation she spoke about what it means to represent her home country while playing basketball thousands of miles away.

For Davis, where she comes from is something she wears with pride.

That part of our conversation stood out to me because athletes don't leave their identities behind when they join a new team.

They bring their families, communities, cultures and experiences with them.

Those stories are part of sports, too.

Davis' journey has taken her from Australia to college basketball in the United States and now to USC. Her international background adds yet another perspective to a roster already bringing together players with different experiences.

Three Conversations, One Common Theme

Speaking separately with Gottlieb, Burns and Davis revealed different sides of this USC team.

Gottlieb talked about the possibilities surrounding a freshman class whose members each bring their own gifts.

Burns emphasized the defensive possibilities created by length, speed and versatility.

Davis spoke about identity and the pride she carries from home.

Different conversations.

But together, they helped paint a picture of a team whose strength may ultimately come from the variety of people and abilities within it.

That's what makes this USC roster interesting.

There isn't just one storyline to follow.

Seeing Basketball From the Other Side

There was also something full-circle about being inside a college basketball practice again.

Before becoming a sports journalist, I was a college basketball player.

I understand what practice feels like when you're the person running the drills, listening to coaches and preparing for the next game. I understand the repetition and work that happen when there aren't fans in the stands.

Now, I get to experience those same environments differently.

I'm listening to what coaches emphasize.

I'm watching how players respond.

I'm looking for details that could eventually become part of a team's identity.

And I'm asking athletes and coaches about the stories that aren't always visible in a box score.

My experience as a former player doesn't replace my responsibility as a journalist, but it does give me another perspective from which to understand the game.

What I'm Watching This Season

After leaving practice, there are several things I'm especially interested in watching as USC's season develops.

How quickly will the freshmen make their presence felt?

How will Watkins' return impact a roster that developed while she was away?

How will USC use a guard-heavy lineup while taking advantage of its length?

And perhaps most importantly, how disruptive can this team become defensively?

Gottlieb believes the freshman class has an opportunity to make an immediate impact.

Burns sees length and speed as defensive weapons.

And the players are bringing their own talents, backgrounds and experiences into the gym.

Now comes the opportunity to put all of those pieces together.

As someone who played the game and now covers it, I'm excited to see what this team becomes.

There will eventually be final scores, statistics and highlights to analyze.

But before any of that happens, the foundation is being built in practice.

And from what I saw inside the gym, USC women's basketball has plenty to build with.