Lindsay Gottlieb Opens Up About Facing Dawn Staley’s South Carolina: What Southern California’s Coach Has Said Ahead of The Real SC

Southern California women’s basketball is preparing for another major test against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

The matchup, promoted as The Real SC, brings together two programs with the same initials but different identities: the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Southern California Trojans.

While the upcoming contest is attracting attention because of the talent on both rosters, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has previously made her position clear about competing against elite programs like South Carolina.

Her comments show that she views these difficult matchups as opportunities for growth rather than games to avoid.

What Lindsay Gottlieb Has Said About Playing South Carolina

Following Southern California’s 69–52 loss to South Carolina on November 15, 2025, Gottlieb spoke about the challenge of competing against Staley’s team.

She praised the Gamecocks’ strengths, particularly their rebounding, transition offense and defensive ability.

“We want these kinds of games to teach us where we need to be and where we need to get to. Credit South Carolina for doing what they do really well. Obviously, they destroyed us on the boards. They’re good in transition, and they’re really good defensively.”

Gottlieb also explained why challenging opponents can help her team identify areas that need improvement.

“I’d rather get it handed to us tonight, even though it doesn’t feel good, and understand what we’re capable of doing and getting there eventually.”

Her message was clear: playing against a championship-caliber opponent can reveal weaknesses that might otherwise remain hidden.

Gottlieb’s Respect for Dawn Staley

Gottlieb has also spoken positively about Staley beyond their basketball rivalry.

In March 2026, while discussing the relationship between Staley and Southern California star JuJu Watkins, Gottlieb praised the South Carolina coach’s approach to recruiting and relationships with players.

Watkins had previously considered both Southern California and South Carolina before choosing the Trojans.

Gottlieb said:

“I think it speaks to like just the security level, I think Dawn seems super secure in who she is and what she’s built.”

She also described Staley’s treatment of players who choose other programs as admirable, noting that Staley continued to support Watkins even though she did not attend South Carolina.

Those remarks demonstrate that the relationship between the two coaches extends beyond competition on the basketball court.

What Southern California Must Prepare For

South Carolina’s physicality and defensive pressure were major challenges for Southern California during their previous meeting.

Gottlieb specifically discussed the difficulty of dealing with the Gamecocks’ length and interior presence.

“It’s one thing to talk about it. It’s one thing to see it on film, and it’s another thing to experience it. They do have a lot of length, especially in the interior.”

She also acknowledged that South Carolina’s defensive approach made it difficult for her players to find comfortable scoring opportunities.

For the rematch, Southern California will need to handle the Gamecocks’ pressure, compete on the boards and find ways to generate consistent offense.

JuJu Watkins and the New Southern California Challenge

One major storyline heading into the November 15 matchup is the return of JuJu Watkins.

Watkins missed the entire 2025–26 season because of injury but returned to competition on November 2, 2026, against UNLV.

She scored 21 points in 21 minutes in that game, providing an important boost to the Trojans.

Southern California also has sophomore Jazzy Davidson, who opened the season with 23 points against UNLV, and freshman Saniyah Hall, who has quickly become another important scoring option.

The Trojans entered November 10 ranked No. 3 nationally, while South Carolina retained the No. 1 position in the November 9 AP Poll.

The November 15 Rematch: What to Expect

The upcoming game offers another opportunity for Gottlieb to measure her team’s progress against one of the country’s leading programs.

South Carolina will bring its familiar defensive intensity, frontcourt strength and experience under Staley.

Southern California, meanwhile, has added more talent and has Watkins back in its lineup after her lengthy absence.

The biggest questions will be whether the Trojans can handle South Carolina’s physical defense, protect the basketball and produce consistently against the Gamecocks.

Game Information

• Matchup: Southern California Trojans vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
• Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• Location: Greenville, South Carolina
• Television: ABC
• Event name: The Real SC

Final Takeaway

Lindsay Gottlieb has shown considerable respect for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina program.

Her previous comments reveal that she values challenging games against elite opponents because they help her players understand what is required to compete at the highest level.

The November 15 meeting will provide another opportunity for Southern California to measure its development against South Carolina.

With JuJu Watkins back, Jazzy Davidson developing and a talented supporting cast around them, the Trojans enter this matchup with a different group of options than they had during their previous meeting.

For Gottlieb, the challenge is not simply facing Dawn Staley again. It is showing how much her Southern California team has learned since its last encounter with the Gamecocks.

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