Just eight months ago in Portland, Oregon, then-No. 3 seed UConn, led by their star Paige Bueckers, pulled off a stunning upset against Juju Watkins and No. 1 seed USC in the Elite Eight, securing a spot in the 2024 Final Four. It was a showdown for the ages between two of women’s college basketball’s biggest stars. Fast forward to a chilly Saturday night in front of 15,584 fans, and history almost repeated itself—almost.

This time, however, the tables turned. The No. 7 Trojans finally got their revenge in one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2024-25 season! USC managed to fend off a furious comeback by the No. 4 Huskies, emerging victorious with a nail-biting 72-70 win at the XL Center. It marked the Trojans’ first marquee win of the season.

Yet, for UConn’s legendary head coach Geno Auriemma, the loss wasn’t his main takeaway. Instead, he was struck by the crowd size—a reflection of how far the program and women’s basketball have come.

During the post-game press conference, Auriemma reminisced, saying: “As I was driving in today, it reminded me of the very first game we played here. It must have been ’86 or ’87… and I don’t think there were even 100 people in the building. Driving up today, knowing there’d be 16,000 people here and the game’s on national TV—it’s almost like we’re in a different universe. But this is where we are today, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

For Auriemma, who has been at the helm of UConn since 1985, the progress is undeniable. How could he not feel proud? Over nearly four decades, the 70-year-old has guided the Huskies to 17 undefeated conference seasons and holds the NCAA record for the most wins (1,217), along with the highest winning percentage in the sport. Under his leadership, countless legends have emerged, solidifying UConn as a powerhouse.

But for Auriemma, success isn’t just about banners or records—it’s about impact. Drawing a crowd of nearly 16,000 to a game when, decades ago, only 100 showed up is the real victory in his eyes.

This isn’t the first time a UConn vs. USC matchup has drawn a massive audience

Last year’s Elite Eight clash between the two programs brought in 6.7 million viewers, peaking at 10.4 million—a viewership milestone only surpassed by the 2022 championship game in women’s basketball history since 1996. In that game, USC entered as the undefeated juggernaut (38-0) but fell short of the Final Four, losing to UConn in a thrilling finish.

Despite the heartbreak, USC’s coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, didn’t hesitate to acknowledge Auriemma’s legacy. After Saturday’s victory, she remarked: “This is a significant win, especially because of the stature of UConn’s program and what Geno Auriemma has done for our sport. It doesn’t matter that they haven’t won a championship in a couple of years. The way they prepare and play makes you better—and it’s made us better.”

Now standing at 8-1, USC has only one loss this season—a 13-point defeat to Notre Dame on Nov. 23, a game that slipped away in the second half. As for UConn, the question lingers: can they flip the script and take revenge against USC this season?