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Perseverance and determination taking over when you’re on the edge of a big moment. Victory in the final hour, pushing until you find your stride. The tenacity of bringing it all together.
Fight on, the Trojan way.
With the Hollywood sign in the distance, USC shines bright for all who choose to be Trojans. And for five-star freshman Jazzy Davidson, the magic of the city was on full display the moment she stepped on campus and set her sights on greatness.
“I fell in love with USC,” Jazzy says of her first visit. “When I came back in September, my senior year, I knew this is where I was going.”
The already stacked résumé of this freshman didn’t come overnight. Her story begins nearly 1,000 miles north in Clackamas, OR, where a friendly Jazzy was simply excited to be on the court with friends who would soon turn into sisters. There, she unlocked a passion that would take her to heights she had once only imagined.
“My earliest memory is probably my first AAU game,” Davidson says. “It was in third grade, and we got blown out by, like, 40. Very memorable.”
Where most would have bowed out and tried something less daunting, Davidson looked the game in the eye and said bring it on. The third grader facing defeat would go on to become the No. 1 player in the class of 2025, turning heads at every Division I program in the nation and transforming a 40-point loss into a future gold medal.
Oh, how time passes.
Young Jazzy found her reps not only on the court, but by watching elite players carve their names into the game.
“Growing up, it was really cool just seeing the older girls like Cam Brink and Sabrina [Ionescu] and all of the girls in Oregon who were playing there,” Davidson says. “There’s a big basketball culture in Oregon. I was just really excited to be part of it.”
Outside of basketball, Jazzy thrived in the outdoors. “I played a lot of other sports. Being active in general, being outside, there’s a lot of nature in Oregon—hiking, swimming, all that kind of stuff,” she says. “I would say I love hiking. I think that’s kind of random, but it’s one thing I enjoy.”
From Oregon to Los Angeles, the throughline remains the same. A highly anticipated commitment had everyone on their toes, with UConn, UCLA, TCU and Duke in the running. But Jazzy always knew her heart belonged at USC, not for the flashing lights or the Hollywood sign in the distance, but for the opportunity to forge her own path. A belief in changing the game, whether today or tomorrow. The determination to win was right here.
“I love the relationships I built with the coaches and some of the girls on the team that I knew prior to coming here,” Davidson says. “That was a big factor for me, but also, it’s just a world-class education and a great basketball program as well. So yeah, I love it.”
Ranked No. 18 in the preseason, the Trojans burst out of the gate and proved they were a team fueled by courage, piecing things together and making the most of what’s in front of them.
And their new freshman found a way, time and time again, to rise.
The transition from high school to college has been smooth, as Jazzy allowed the process to guide her through each stage and let her game come to her. While the name on the front of the jersey has changed, the heart behind the name on the back hasn’t skipped a beat.
“Overall now, I understand the game of basketball a lot better in general,” Davidson says, of how her perspective has evolved. “Being able to spot defensive schemes or play setups.”
As the season has unfolded, she’s discovered her rhythm, growing into her own path while finding balance on the shoulders of the giants who forged the way before her.
“There’s a standard in our program that we want to uphold,” Davidson says.
Lisa Leslie. Cheryl Miller. Cynthia Cooper. Names that built the foundation of Trojan women’s basketball, creating a legacy for the next generation to make their own.
“Being able to be here and make my own mark on tradition, it’s really cool,” Jazzy says. “It’s definitely not something that I take for granted at all. I mean, I’m very grateful every time I get to play a game. So it’s, yeah, it’s still kind of surreal for me.”
In her debut, Jazzy proved she is exactly who many anticipated her to be. Pulling out a strong win over New Mexico State, the newest Trojan etched her name early, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, doing what she does best by getting teammates involved.
From game one to today, Davidson has been unstoppable. She’s found her Westside groove, a rhythm that combines confidence, timing and basketball IQ, and she hasn’t let up. Averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, she charts the leaderboard across USC’s stat sheet in blocks, steals, points, assists. You name it, Jazzy is there, showing just how impactful she can be on or off the ball.
“I feel like I’m a pretty competitive person, so it doesn’t really take much to get in that zone,” she says. “Every time I step out on the court, I’m just trying to do my best and help the team win, whatever that may be.”
And that Westside groove isn’t just about numbers. It’s the way she glides through the lanes, reads defenses before they set and finds teammates in perfect position. It’s in the subtle hesitation before a drive that freezes a defender, or the soft touch on a rebound that sparks the next play. On defense, her two-way instincts force opponents to rethink their game plan. Wherever she is on the floor, the game bends to her rhythm.
“I think the biggest thing for me is just seeing the game, seeing the floor better,” Davidson says. “Knowing when to go, when to take my opportunities, and when to kick it out. Setting my teammates up.”
Confidence built on preparation, poise under pressure and trust in her instincts. It’s what makes Davidson a force on the court and a leader off it, a freshman already defining the heartbeat of her team and a key part of everything they do. And under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, the Trojans have been built piece by piece, pushed to define their identity and chart their own way.
“She’s a great player’s coach,” Davidson says, when asked about Gottlieb. “She’s a great person to talk to about life, basketball, really everything. So it’s been super fun just seeing the growth of our team throughout the season.”
Even amid unprecedented circumstances following JuJu Watkins’ season-ending injury in late March of 2025, the program stood tall, making the most of its March Madness run and setting the tone for what comes next.
With Watkins on the sideline, she quickly pivoted into the team’s biggest cheerleader and a seasoned presence, encouraging her teammates to play their game and continue to fight on.
“She’s not only an amazing teammate, but just a great friend to all of us,” Davidson says of Watkins. “Some of the insight she’s had for me, just being in somewhat similar positions our freshman year, has been really helpful, and I’m very grateful for it.”
USC has the ability to dig deeper than what’s seen on the surface, building behind the scenes what no one expects, revealing a team both versatile and connected, where every edge and corner piece forms an undeniable picture of family.
“I feel like our team just meshes really well, personalities in general,” Davidson says. “We’re all very different people, but our personalities mesh super well. That just makes everything pretty free-flowing, easy and natural.”
Conference play began with a statement win over No. 20 Nebraska, with Davidson nearly posting a double-double: 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. Quite the promising start to Big Ten play. With Jazzy, Kennedy Smith and Kara Dunn leading the charge, the Trojans showed they are on their way.
As the calendar turned to 2026, so did new challenges and triumphs, a balance of highs and lows, and a reminder of how strong a team can be no matter where you land. The Trojans have battled to refine their stride as each game grows more difficult, but their core remains intact and resilient.
“January has really gotten us to be a super tight-knit group,” Davidson says. “Going through some of the things we went through together and getting closer through it really helped us. I’m really excited. I think the best is yet to come for our team.”
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