USC Women’s Basketball Welcomes Yakiya Milton As Transfer To Troy
May 14, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Milton joins the Trojans after two seasons at Auburn.
LOS ANGELES — The USC women's basketball program has added a talented post player in Yakiya Milton, who is signed on to join the Trojans as a junior on the 2025-26 roster, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has announced. A 6-5 forward, Milton comes to USC after two seasons at Auburn.
"We're excited to add Kai to our program," Gottlieb said of Milton. "She brings athleticism, speed, skill and shot blocking to our front court. She fits really well with our style of play and will be an asset for us on the floor. She's a terrific young person who will thrive on and off the court as a part of the Trojan Family."
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Milton was a two-time SEC academic honoree at Auburn who helped the Tigers to the 2023 NCAA Tournament in her freshman season. In her two seasons of work at Auburn, she shot 38.8 percent from the floor, averaging 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 points per game in 44 games played, with three starts for the Tigers. Milton prepped at Mandarin High in Jacksonville, where she ranked eighth in the state of Florida in blocks and set school records for blocks and rebounds. She was the first Mandarin basketball players to receive a Division I scholarship.
Milton is one of five newcomers currently signed on to join the Trojans in 2025-26, teaming up with all-conference honorees and fellow transfers Kara Dunn, Londynn Jones and Dayana Mendes along with incoming freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, a Naismith High School All-American who was recently named as the nation's top-ranked high school player. USC is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw the Trojans win the Big Ten regular-season championship, earn a No. 1 seed into the NCAA Tournament and reach a second straight Elite Eight to finish with a 31-4 overall record.
"We're excited to add Kai to our program," Gottlieb said of Milton. "She brings athleticism, speed, skill and shot blocking to our front court. She fits really well with our style of play and will be an asset for us on the floor. She's a terrific young person who will thrive on and off the court as a part of the Trojan Family."
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Milton was a two-time SEC academic honoree at Auburn who helped the Tigers to the 2023 NCAA Tournament in her freshman season. In her two seasons of work at Auburn, she shot 38.8 percent from the floor, averaging 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 points per game in 44 games played, with three starts for the Tigers. Milton prepped at Mandarin High in Jacksonville, where she ranked eighth in the state of Florida in blocks and set school records for blocks and rebounds. She was the first Mandarin basketball players to receive a Division I scholarship.
Milton is one of five newcomers currently signed on to join the Trojans in 2025-26, teaming up with all-conference honorees and fellow transfers Kara Dunn, Londynn Jones and Dayana Mendes along with incoming freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, a Naismith High School All-American who was recently named as the nation's top-ranked high school player. USC is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw the Trojans win the Big Ten regular-season championship, earn a No. 1 seed into the NCAA Tournament and reach a second straight Elite Eight to finish with a 31-4 overall record.
Women's Basketball Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Media Availability 9/18/25
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