No. 17 USC vs. No. 4 UCLA preview: a clash of freshmen and the return of Londynn jones

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LOS ANGELES - The first battle of Los Angeles kicks off Saturday at Pauley Pavilion between No. 17 USC (10-3, 2-0) and No. 4 UCLA (13-1, 3-0) and the clash of one of the most historic rivalries in college sports won't just be a sight to behold, it will be a major test on both sides.

USC was the biggest thorn in UCLA's side last season after the Trojans delivered the only two regular season losses that the Bruins, the no.1 team in the nation for the majority of 2024-25, suffered. The Bruins got their revenge in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament with a 72-67 victory and while the two storied rivals were placed at opposite ends of the NCAA national tournament and slated for a possible rematch, it wasn't meant to be after USC's defeat at the hands of eventual-champion UConn in the Elite Eight.

The Trojans' dominance last season was defined by the outstanding performance of JuJu Watkins, but after suffering an ACL-tear in the second round of the tournament, the Trojans have sadly been without one of the nation's best players in the entirety of this season.

Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune

Angela Dugalic #32 of the UCLA Bruins and JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Pauley Pavilion on March 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

New stars rising

That hasn't kept them from rolling, however. The Trojans have been led by a new face, freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, the biggest breakout of the season. The Portland, Ore. product is leading the Trojans in all five major categories, averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.

The Bruins have some talented freshmen of their own. After being held back injuries to start the season, freshman forward Sienna Betts has hit the ground running. In just four games, Betts has averaged 8.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54.% from the field and emerging as a versatile threat inside the paint.

Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune

UCLA forward, Sienna Betts (16) receives a pass during a NCAA basketball game against Cal Poly on December 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

"She's [Betts] such a talented player on both sides of the ball, and I think I've been most impressed with how she's been forced to guard perimeter players, and the way she sat down and moved her feet [and] the way she's learned the schemes. She's going to be a big-time dominant player here at UCLA that we're going to talk about for a really long time," Close said.

A homecoming for Jones

Another hotly awaited storyline coming into Saturday's game will be USC senior guard Londynn Jones' first game against her former school after transferring across town from UCLA to USC this past offseason.

Jon Bryan - The Sporting Tribune

USC guard Londynn Jones (3) looks to pass during an NCAA basketball game against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Saturday November 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Jones made headlines for her "we don't wear blue anymore" comments earlier this season, but UCLA head coach Cori Close has made it clear that there is nothing but friendly rivalry between the Bruins and Jones.

"She's [Jones] a phenomenal player, great person. We did not leave on bad terms. We didn't have alignment on what she needed her senior year," Close said. "So I support her 100% and I want her to do well every game except the two we play them, or maybe three."

The first Battle of LA tips off at 5:00 pm PST at Pauley Pavilion Saturday, Jan. 3 and will air on Peacock.

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