Coach Gottlieb celebrates drafted USC women's basketball players while looking forward

It has been a good week for USC women's basketball. Between Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall being drafted and Jazzy Davidson being named the top overall player in her high school class, Trojan fans have a lot of exciting happenings occurring around the program. 

Naturally, a lot of concern is around how JuJu Watkins is after her ACL tear. While speaking with TMZ, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb updated fans that the current sophomore is entirely focused on her rehab at the moment. From her comments, it appears that everything is going according to plan and on schedule in that regard.

The reporter asked a series of questions regarding the latest Trojan draftees. Iriafen will join the Washington Mystics, and Marshall will join forces with the Connecticut Sun. She spoke on the growth both players made while with the program. The coach also further expressed her confidence in their ability to be able to play at the WNBA level.

Draft night was a great evening of celebration for the Women of Troy. Iriafen was present with her coaches as she went to her new team with the fourth pick. Marshall heard her name announced on stage, when her new organization selected her 25th.

State of the USC women's basketball team

In the business of college sports, though, coach Gottlieb has to always have an eye looking ahead as well. The Trojans made it to the Elite Eight during this year's March Madness, and with some of the new players coming in, the staff feels confident in the team's ability to have another strong showing, even if Watkins needs to take the entire calendar year to recover.

While speaking with the TMZ reporter, coach Gottlieb shared:  

"Everyone's excited about the program team we've built, and we'll be back. "

There is a lot to look forward to from the USC women's basketball team. Teams often embody the personality and traits of their coach. This resilient and tough competing side exemplifies a hard-working program that coach Gottlieb is striving to continue to build upon heading into the 2025-2026 season.