The No. 1 UConn women's basketball team secured a 79-51 victory over No. 17 USC in Los Angeles on Saturday, improving to 10-0. Azzi Fudd led the Huskies with 17 points in the convincing win. Both teams honored Kobe and Gigi Bryant by wearing Kobe shoes during the game.
The top-ranked UConn Huskies dominated the No. 17 USC Trojans 79-51 at Galen Center in Los Angeles on December 13, 2025, extending their perfect record to 10-0. This top-20 matchup highlighted UConn's defensive prowess, as the Huskies forced 20 turnovers from USC, converting them into 26 points. UConn also outscored the Trojans 44-22 in the paint, building a largest lead of 39 points.
Azzi Fudd contributed 17 points for UConn, emphasizing team play in a post-game quote: "On a team like this, you have to play unselfish basketball. You have to be aggressive whether it be from 3 or taking it to the rim." Sarah Strong delivered a strong all-around performance with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks. Ashlynn Shade added 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while freshman Blanca Quiñonez scored 12 points off the bench. Four Huskies reached double figures in scoring.
For USC, now 7-3 after snapping a four-game winning streak, Kennedy Smith led with 16 points and seven rebounds. Londynn Jones added 14 points from the bench, and freshman Jazzy Davidson scored 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
The game carried added significance as both teams paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, who had dreamed of playing for UConn. Players from UConn and USC wore different pairs of Kobe shoes, as noted by Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times: “To pay homage to Kobe and Gigi Bryant, who would’ve been in her freshman year at UConn, USC and UConn players are all wearing different pairs of Kobe’s for today’s game.” UConn, the reigning 2025 NCAA champions, continue their strong season, while USC aims to rebound from recent losses to South Carolina and Notre Dame.