Mississippi State Faces USC in High-Stakes NCAA Tournament Clash

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — In the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the ninth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-11) take on the top-seeded USC Trojans (29-3) at the Galen Center on Monday night, with a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line.

Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell acknowledged the uphill battle against a powerhouse like USC, saying on Sunday, “We’re a speed bump that happens to be here, and we’re going to find a way to make it as tough a competition as we can.” His Bulldogs have come prepared to upset the expectations of their higher-ranked opponent.

The Trojans, led by sophomore superstar JuJu Watkins, come off a 71-25 rout of UNC Greensboro in the first round, where Watkins contributed 22 points and eight rebounds. “Honestly, it’s going to be really fun playing against a player like her who has worked on her game so much and is such a great scorer,” said Mississippi State guard Chandler Prater.

USC faced early struggles in their last game against UNCG but switched to their aggressive “Mad Dog Press,” which helped force 23 turnovers and dominate the scoreboard. “Whoever the dog is in the front, most of the time it’s Rayah [Marshall], just brings it,” said freshman Avery Howell, praising USC’s defensive intensity.

In preparation, Purcell emphasized the need for his team to be mentally tough, stating, “If we can have the mindset that we’re going to get our shot blocked, and understand that I need to bounce back and still come at them, then we’ll have a fighter’s chance.” The Bulldogs will rely heavily on their defense, bolstered by players like 6-foot-6 Madina Okot, who posted a double-double in their first-round victory against California.

Jerkaila Jordan, a key player for Mississippi State, stated, “Defense is going to keep us in this game. Just bringing that defensive mindset will allow our defense to create our offense. We’re going to bring it.”

The matchup not only has implications for the tournament but also highlights individual stories, such as Jordan’s new NIL deal with Reggie Kelly to promote her sauce brand, “Jerk Sauce,” which is sold during the games. “Like how cool is that, right?” Purcell remarked while expressing pride in the representation of women in sports.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET). With national coverage on ESPN, fans can expect a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for advancement in the tournament.