Dawn Staley and Lindsay Gottlieb are set for a marquee matchup in one of the most intriguing non-conference clashes this college basketball season. Two of the sport’s most respected coaches, each having built elite programs on opposite coasts, will square off in a game loaded with star power, stylistic contrasts, and early implications for national rankings.
For the past few years, Staley and Gottlieb have been linked through recruiting battles, high-stakes tournament conversations, and mutual respect for their coaching journeys.
This season, both coaches bring in rosters capable of deep tournament runs. South Carolina leans on its trademark defensive intensity, dominant frontcourt play, and unmatched depth. USC counters with a dynamic guard-led attack and one of the country’s most versatile scoring units.
When, Where, and How to Watch South Carolina Gamecocks vs. USC Trojans?
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET or 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: Crypto Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fubo
Radio: 107.5 FM, Sirius XM 117 or 190 (Brad Muller), South Carolina Gamecock Radio Network, USC Trojan Radio Network
Both teams enter the year with championship expectations. Despite Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins’ absence, followed by Maddy McDaniel’s suspension, Staley’s Gamecocks continue to impress this season with the trifecta of Tessa Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Raven Johnson.
Gottlieb, meanwhile, has elevated the Trojans into a Big Ten powerhouse, thanks to top recruiting classes and a rapidly rising national profile. USC’s star player, JuJu Watkins, is out for the season, but freshman Jazzy Davidson has successfully stepped up in her stead.
The No. 2-ranked Gamecocks currently hold a 3-0 edge over the Trojans in the all-time series. They last faced each other in 2014, when South Carolina won 70-61.
The buildup makes their meeting one of the most anticipated early tests for both squads.
Dawn Staley’s Comments on the USC Game
USC enters the matchup with a close 69-68 win over NC State, which sent Gottlieb’s team soaring to the No. 9 spot from No. 20 on the latest AP rankings. They beat New Mexico State before that in their season opener.
“It’s going to be a great game,” Staley said about the game on Thursday. “I think they’re a little bit more battle-tested than we are, playing the schedule that they play. Hopefully the teams that we played, and they have, have prepared us for them as far as the type of offenses. Some of them are very similar. So we gotta play.”
South Carolina is 3-0 in the season, having beaten Grand Canyon, Bowling Green, and Clemson. The last was not as smooth a win as Staley had expected.