USC Women's Basketball: Watch Trojans President Praise Team's Big NCAA Win

Eva Geitheim | Mar 27, 2024

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

USC women's basketball has advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 as they've surpassed all expectations for the team heading into the year. Led by incredible freshman JuJu Watkins and a trio of Ivy League transfers including McKenzie Forbes, Kayla Padilla and Kaitlyn Davis, the Trojans finished the regular season 23-5 while reaching their highest ranking in the AP Top 25 in decades.

The Women of Troy went on to win the final Pac-12 Conference Tournament, and have now won the first two games of their March Madness tournament. The Trojans are in the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years, when they last made it this far in 1994.

Naturally, the Trojans have seen praise across the conference and NCAA for their performance this year. Most recently, USC's president, Carol Folt, and their athletic director, Jennifer Cohen, spoke to the team to congratulate them on their accomplishments this season.

"You've captured the heart of the country."@PresidentFolt and @ADJenniferCohen spoke to the squad after last night's win ✌️ pic.twitter.com/CmgCRqCqqb

— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) March 26, 2024

"Women rock. You rock. We're so proud of you. You were fighting til the very last seconds so congrats," Folt said via USC women's basketball on X.

"You have not only captured the heart of this city, you have captured the heart of the country," Cohen said. "My phone has been blowing up for the last few weeks about this team. America is in love with this team and that is because you are gritty, you are tough, you are together. That is the standard we're trying to build in the whole culture of this athletic department ... You guys have made us so proud."

They've already had a great season, but the Trojans will strive for more as they shoot for a trip to the Elite Eight and a national championship win. The No. 1 Trojans will next have to take down No. 5 Baylor on Saturday for a shot at either of those feats.