2017-18 USC Women's Basketball Season Outlook

Stay Gold.

These two simple words will be used to define a new culture shift and a hopeful rebirth of the storied USC women's basketball program under the direction of newly-minted Trojan head coach Mark Trakh.

After inheriting a USC team that finished 14-16 overall with a 5-13 mark in Pac-12 conference play last season, Trakh knows he has some work to do to bring USC back to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year absence. However, with this new "Stay Gold" mantra in place, Trakh believes that he has all the right pieces to buy in to this new culture.

"With this team, it's all about the culture," Trakh said. "We want the golden standard of cultures here at USC and to get our kids to be on the same page — to work hard, work together, play together hard offensively and defensively, be consistent with that effort, and represent the university well on and off the floor. I think that's the formula to winning and getting back in the tournament, and having that structure will go a long way for us this year and moving forward."

Trakh is no stranger to the demands of being a head coach in one of the premier conferences for women's basketball. During his first tenure at USC (2004-09), he compiled a 90-64 overall record, making back-to-back NCAA appearances before a series of promising seasons that were eventually derailed by injuries to key players. Trakh also was able to compile an 8-3 record against crosstown rival UCLA while winning at least 17 games in each season as head coach.

Now that he is back, bringing with him experience from eight NCAA appearances from his 22 seasons as a head coach, Trakh knows that he has another group of Women of Troy with exciting potential for 2017-18 and beyond. He also has a strong staff alongside him, having brought in associate head coach Jason Glover and assistant coaches Aarika Hughes, who played for Trakh at USC, and Blanche Alverson.

"Getting the job, I knew we inherited a talented group of young women," Trakh said. "We want to get up and down the floor, press, run the dribble drive, the high pick and roll. We believe in flow and tempo, so we want to play a fun style that kids want to be a part of. I'm excited about the energy and passion they show every day in practice and I think we've got some good parts. We've been emphasizing culture as far as them working hard, working together, and learning to trust each other, and I think they're really buying in."

While it might take at least a season or two for a typical program to adjust to sudden changes in culture and leadership, it helps when players are open, willing, and ready to welcome that change.

Trakh has that and then some, with his three core veteran leaders and senior captains — Jordan Adams, Sadie Edwards, and Kristen Simon — leading the way.

Adams, a 6-1 guard who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA after a season-ending knee injury last year, is back to bring a veteran presence at the point guard position. Prior to her injury, the former McDonald's All-American was having her best season in a Trojan uniform, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting over 55 percent from the floor in five games. With her wealth of experience, Trakh has an invaluable vocal leader both on and off the floor.

Edwards, a 5-10 guard who earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention after playing in all 30 games and starting the final 22 games last season, also returns in the backcourt. Edwards was one of the first players who welcomed Trakh's new mantra.

"From day one, Coach Trakh and our new staff was very clear about their vision for our program moving forward," said Edwards. "I think every single day we're taking a step towards that goal. The foundation we're building right now is very strong, and it's founded on togetherness, unselfishness, and giving your best effort every day, every second."

The Connecticut product finished second on the team in 3-pointers made last season (24) and averaged 9.2 ppg, often being called upon to hit big shots. This year, Trakh will depend on Edwards to provide maturity and direction on the court while serving as a steady go-to option with her ability to score in multiple ways and defend at a high level.

Bringing experience and leadership in the post is All-Pac-12 Team honoree Simon, who holds 18 career double-doubles to her name. Simon led USC in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg) as a junior, starting all 27 games in which she appeared. The 6-2 post also played the second most minutes per game last season (behind former guard Courtney Jaco) and will look to have another star-studded season as a senior starter.

USC also has a quartet of young post players in sophomore forwards Asiah Jones, Ja'Tavia Tapley, Dani Milisic, and junior forward Marguerite Effa—all of whom are hoping to make 2017-18 their breakout seasons.

Jones, an athletic 6-3 post from South Carolina played in 29 games as a true freshman and made some noise when she delivered eight blocks in a game against Mississippi State last season, the most by a USC player since Trojan great Lisa Leslie had eight in 1993 and the third most blocks ever recorded by a Trojan in a single game. She led USC in blocks last season with 35. Tapley, a versatile 6-3 forward out of Florida, showed flashes of her potential last season after appearing in all 30 games and starting the last 15 of the year as a freshman. She set career highs with 15 points against Arizona and eight rebounds against Washington State during conference play and averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also returning is redshirt sophomore Dani Milisic, who brings both strength and length in the post. The 6-4 Australian forward/center looms as USC's tallest player on the roster this season. Milisic made her Trojan debut last year, playing in 20 games and shooting 40 percent from the floor. Rounding out the post players is 6-3 junior Marguerite Effa, a native of Cameroon who prepped in Los Angeles and who boasts tremendous athletic ability. In addition to their defensive abilities, Trakh will look to these four to expand their offensive range and provide some support in the frontcourt for Simon.

Perhaps the biggest task in the backcourt will be replacing USC's No. 2 all-time 3-point shooter, Courtney Jaco, on the perimeter. Jaco, a former All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, averaged 10.6 ppg last season and made 68 threes on a .402 shooting clip.

However, one player who will likely step up in a starting role and add on to an already impressive resume as a Trojan is 5-8 sophomore guard Minyon Moore. The Bay Area. product was undoubtedly USC's spark plug off the bench last season, playing in all 30 games and leading the team in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) in addition to finishing second in scoring (11.7 ppg). The Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection shot 38 percent from 3-point range last season and also made a living at the free-throw line, shooting nearly twice as many free throws as the next player on the team. Trakh will rely on Moore to provide leadership and a big punch in the backcourt with her skills as a savvy distributor and sure scorer.

USC also returns the services of 5-9 junior guard Aliyah Mazyck from North Carolina, a speedy athlete and tireless defender who averaged 6.6 ppg and 1.5 steals per game in 19 games last season. With her speed and threat from beyond the arc, a fully healthy Mazyck is guaranteed to cause huge problems for opponents this season. USC also has Spanish product Candela Abejón back to provide a spark off the bench for the Trojans as a junior guard.

The Trojans will have three newcomers at the guard position, including freshmen Shalexxus Aaron and Kailey Tooke. Aaron, a 6-1 guard from Apple Valley, Calif., is the sister of current USC men's basketball player Shaqquan Aaron and was a CIF Southern Section First Team selection and CIF All-State Second Team pick as a senior in 2017. The 5-8 Tooke from Culver City, Calif., earned a walk-on spot on the roster after playing four years as a starter for Culver City HS and leading her team to four-straight Ocean League titles.

The biggest headline, however, is the addition of an All-American caliber guard in Mariya Moore. Mariya, the older sister of Minyon, transferred to USC following three successful years at Louisville where she was a three-time selection to the Naismith Trophy Watch List and an All-ACC Second Team performer as a junior for the Cardinal after averaging 12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 4.9 apg and helping Louisville to the Sweet Sixteen. A jack of all trades, the 6-0 Moore finished in the top-10 at Louisville in career assists, 3-pointers made, and free throws made, and No. 13 all-time in career points (1,365), while registering five career double-doubles and one triple double (11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists vs. Syracuse). Moore will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have one year of eligibility at Troy.

In all, these 13 Women of Troy comprise a team that is poised to do big things once the "Stay Gold" mantra is actualized. Trakh and his players all have a new and improved focus on the development of a culture built on sustaining a high level of success now and in the future.

"The time is now," said Edwards. "I think this is when it all comes together for us as a team. We have a chip on our shoulders and we're ready to turn a new leaf for USC women's basketball."

USC remains one of just six programs in the country to hold multiple national titles to its name, but the Trojans haven't been back to the NCAA Final Four since 1986. With this newfound energy around the program, the 2017-18 Trojans, a rejuvenated Trakh and his hungry, motivated coaching staff is eager to bring USC back to national prominence.

"The dream of every coach is to go to the Final Four someday," Trakh said. "That's our vision and that's what we want. The kids have a vision, the coaching staff has a vision, and hopefully [it will] come together."

#StayGold

Players Mentioned

Shalexxus Aaron

Jordan Adams

Sadie Edwards

Marguerite Effa

Courtney Jaco

Asiah Jones

Aliyah Mazyck

Danijela Milisic

Mariya Moore

Minyon Moore

Kristen Simon

Ja'Tavia Tapley