USC Women's Basketball Hosts Wisconsin in Thursday Night Showdown at Galen Center

Thursday, February 19

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

USC

Wisconsin

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Photo by: Kirby Lee

USC Women's Basketball Hosts Wisconsin in Thursday Night Showdown at Galen Center

February 17, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

Trojans look to extend five-game winning streak.

LOS ANGELES - USC women's basketball returns to the Galen Center on Thursday, Feb. 19 as the Trojans host the Wisconsin Badgers at 6 p.m. PT. With the regular season entering its final stretch, USC looks to defend its home court and extend its five-game winning streak.

Last season, USC handled Wisconsin convincingly in their first-ever meeting, cruising to an 86–64 victory behind balanced scoring and active defense in Madison. Ten Trojans scored and the Badgers struggled with turnovers in that contest, laying down a template USC hopes to replicate at home.

Thursday night the Women of Troy will debut pink jerseys in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. USC's Kennedy Smith was selected as a recipient of the Kay Yow Servant Leader Award ahead of the 2025-26 season. The award recognized student-athletes who exemplify the values of leadership, selflessness and service, embodying the Hall of Fame basketball Coach Kay Yow.

Smith is joined by a cohort of other women's basketball players across the nation. Award recipients are distinguished by a special patch on their game-worn jerseys, symbolizing their role as servant leaders. The patch embodies the character traits of Kay Yow – uplifting, powerful, drawing and giving strength.

SERIES RECORD:1-0
LAST MEETING:W, 86-64 (February 5 , 2025) - Kohl Center - Madison, Wisc.
HEAD COACH: Robin Pingeton (1st season - 13-12)
CONFERENCE: Big Ten Conference
STREAK: W, 1-0
TV/STREAM: Peacock (PxP - Anna Schatz , Analyst - Kim Adams)
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Be the 893rd win in program history (892-575)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 110th win at USC (109-45)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 345th win as a head coach (344-173)
Help USC improve to 9-6 in conference play
Help USC stay undefeated in the month of February (4-0 currently)
Give USC it's 12th home win of the season (11-3 currently)

SCOUTING WISCONSIN

Wisconsin is ranked No. 13 in the Big Ten and is 5-10 in conference play
On Feb. 15, Wisconsin fell to Minnesota (83-60), marking their sixth consecutive loss and second loss against Minnesota this season
SR forward Gift Uchenna Okeke is ranked No. 4 in blocks per game in the Big Ten (1.4). She also leads the team in rebounds per game (7.0)
SR guard Destiny Howell leads the Badgers in points per game (14.3)
SR guard Ronnie Porter leads Wisconsin in assists per game (4.6) and steals per game (1.7)

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is 7th nationally & leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (6.0) (151 total)
Freshman Jazzy Davidson leads the Trojans in every major statistical category, including points per game (17.2), rebounds per game (6.3), assists per game (4.4), blocks per game (2.2), steals per game (1.9) & minutes played (34:20)
Davidson has recorded 24 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 22 straight games since Nov. 18. Davidson also has ten 20+ point performances this season.
Davidson is 18th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks (55). The freshman is 15th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.20).
Davidson is 4th in the Big Ten & 12th nationally in field goal attempts (417). She is also 2nd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (417).
Through the last three games, Davidson is averaging 24.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 5.7 apg.
Sophomore Kennedy Smith co-leads USC in steals per game (1.9)
Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 133 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 25 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.2 percent from the charity stripe

LAST TIME OUT

The Women of Troy outlasted Indiana 79-73 on Thursday, Feb. 12
USC's 44 points in the second half match their season best for point scored in a second half this season
USC's 28 made free throws marked a new season high
With 16 points, SR Kara Dunn scored in double figures for the 15th consecutive game. The guard also contributed six rebounds and three assists
The game marked FR Jazzy Davidson's 22nd consecutive game scoring in double figures with a team-high 24 points. She also recorded six rebounds, three assists, three steals, two blocks and a career-high eight made free throws
With 15 points, SO Kennedy Smith surpassed 500 career points (508). Smith also tallied three rebounds, two assists, three steals and a team-high three blocks with a game-high +12 rating
JR Malia Samuels contributed a game-high four steals, matching her career high. She also scored a career-high four made free throws and had four rebounds and three assists
R-FR Laura Williams recorded a game-high nine rebounds
The Hoosiers' 25 personal fouls are the most fouls drawn by USC against a Big Ten opponent this season
USC forced 19 Indiana turnovers, leading to 21 points for the Trojans

ALL THAT JAZZ

ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the Dec. 18 women's college basketball freshman impact rankings (Davidson was also No. 1 preseason)
Freshman Jazzy Davidson leads the Trojans in every major statistical category, including points per game (17.2), rebounds per game (6.3), assists per game (4.4), blocks per game (2.2), steals per game (1.9) & minutes played (34:20)
Davidson has recorded 24 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 22 straight games since Nov. 18. Davidson also has ten 20+ point performances this season.
Davidson is 18th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks (55). The freshman is 15th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.20).
Davidson is 4th in the Big Ten & 12th nationally in field goal attempts (417). She is also 2nd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (417).
Through the last three games, Davidson is averaging 24.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 5.7 apg. The newcomer put up 14 points (second leading scorer), had five rebounds, four assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 points, had five blocks, four assists, three steals and was perfect from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the winning basket in USC's victory over NC State as the freshman made a fast break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining in the game.
Davidson posted a breakthrough performance versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she finished with 20 points (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not only led all players but also marked the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall's performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson also chipped in four assists and two blocks to round out the effort.
Against No. 21 Washington, Davidson notched her second career double-double with a game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
Against Cal, Davidson scored a then-career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
At No. 20 Nebraska, Davidson scored 17 points and contributed five blocks, eight rebounds, three assists and 1 steal.
Davidson recorded her third double-double against Oregon, putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds (11 defensive), five assists, two blocks and two steals.
Against No. 8 Iowa on Jan. 29, the freshman delivered a complete performance with 21 points and eight assists, accounting for 40 total points. Davidson also added four rebounds, two steals and one block in USC's statement win at the Galen Center.
Against Illinois, Jazzy Davidson recorded a career-high 27 points, also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists against the Illini. With eight assIsts, Davidson contributed an additional 20 points, accounting for 47 against Illinois.

KENNEDY SMITH STEPS UP

Sophomore Kennedy Smith leads USC in steals per game (1.9)
Sophomore Kennedy Smith has stepped up for the Trojans this season under pressure, scoring in double figures against No. 21 Washington (13), No. 2 UConn (16), No. 20 Nebraska (17), No. 13 Michigan State (15) and No. 8 Iowa (12).
Smith posted a then-season best 17 points against No. 20 Nebraska, also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal
Due to injury, Smith missed USC's games against Oregon, Minnesota and No. 12 Maryland
SO Kennedy Smith posted the second double-double of her career and first of the season with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Northwestern. Smith also added five assists.
SO Kennedy Smith scored a season and career high 20 points against the Illini. The sophomore also posted a career-best six blocks and added seven rebounds. The six blocks were a season high for the Trojans.

KARA GETS IT DUNN

Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26.
With her 25 point performance against No. 8 Iowa, senior Kara Dunn officially surpassed 1,500 career points, sitting at 1,523 total
Dunn has posted 18+ points in nine of the last 11 games, including a season best 29 points against Purdue.
The senior is averaging 20 ppg in conference play and 6.1 rpg
Dunn leads USC in offensive boards this season at 46 (1.9 offensive rpg)
Against No. 24 Notre Dame, Dunn led USC in scoring with 21 points
The senior has led USC in scoring three times and rebounding three times this season
Against Oregon, Dunn tied her season best 21 points to lead USC in scoring. The senior also had nine rebounds and four assists. She was also perfect from the charity stripe, shooting 5-5 from the line
At Minnesota, Dunn dropped 27 points, making five three-pointers and contributing six steals and three assists
Against No. 13 Michigan State, Dunn recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three steals
Against No. 7 Michigan, Dunn had her first double-double of the season, posting 26 points, ten rebounds, three assists and two fouls.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES

Appearing in her first ever game as a Trojan, UCLA transfer Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points off the bench. The senior came off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was also 4-4 from the charity stripe.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
The senior got her first start as a Trojan against Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six points, five assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary's, Jones put up a team-high 17 points.
Jones, who has appeared in 132 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA. 24 at USC), has recorded 13 double-figure scoring performances for the Women of Troy this season.
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.2 percent from the charity stripe