The USC Trojans, coached by Lindsay Gottlieb, just secured a prized high school player who will join the team later this year. On Tuesday, March 17, @SCNext shared on X/Twitter that five-star recruit in the high school class of 2026 Sara Okeke has committed to the California-based program.
This came as Okeke had narrowed her choices to Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, and Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee Lady Volunteers before eventually choosing USC. Okeke is currently wrapping up her one-and-done year at DME. She transferred there after making waves in the international scene, representing Spain.
With her decision, fans have reason to believe that Okeke chose USC over the other aforementioned programs for its benefits. The team has risen in its overall NIL value due to several factors, including donor collective support through the school’s “The House of Victory” and superstar guard JuJu Watkins. Watkins, who has the second-highest NIL value in women’s college hoops (according to On3), has helped USC grow financially through her several endorsements.
Fans online criticized Okeke’s decision to commit to the Trojans.
“Another athlete choosing money over a championship of any kind at USC smh,” one user claimed.
“Waste of talent. Gottlieb can’t coach a lick. She’ll be in the portal after one season,” another user said.
“She should’ve went to a school like Howard,” another fan shared.
“A lot of money laundering going on at this university,” a user captioned.
Other X users are just glad to see Okeke commit to the Trojans, as it will significantly boost their chances of winning it all in the 2026-27 campaign.
“USC women’s basketball building a damn Dream Team,” one fan posted.
“Lindsay Gotlieb done assembled the Avengers next for season. They better win it all 🤭🤭,” another fan wrote with a couple of emojis.
“Damn they gonna be the biggest thing stopping Sarah Strong from getting 3 in a row,” a fan asserted.
Okeke is set to join a Trojans squad that currently possesses an overall record of 17-13 (9-9 Big Ten) and finished conference play as the ninth seed in the 2026 Big Ten conference standings. Coach Gottlieb and company are gearing up for the Big Dance this year, with their run commencing on Saturday, March 21, against coach Shawn Poppie’s Clemson Tigers on neutral grounds, the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
USC Trojans Star JuJu Watkins Is Set To Return Next Year
Perhaps all the hype about Sara Okeke joining the USC Trojans is because the team’s bona fide superstar, JuJu Watkins, is set to return come the 2026-27 campaign.
Watkins suffered a torn right ACL during the Trojans’ second-round matchup of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Watkins can work towards building chemistry with Okeke whenever they play together.
Read More: Recapping Everything USC HC Lindsay Gottlieb, Kiki Iriafen, and More Said After NCAA Tournament Second-Round Victory
Also Read: LOOK: JuJu Watkins’ USC Teammate Jazzy Davidson Poses in Green Bikini in ‘Just Adorable’ Photo Dump
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