The USC Trojans are facing an unexpected crisis just hours before their high-stakes matchup with the No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes. One of the key players missing from this game will be Malia Samuels. But what happened?

Why will USC be without Malia Samuels?

A matchup against one of the most dangerous and highly-ranked teams in the league is already expected to test the Trojans’ composure, especially with JuJu Watkins unavailable. With Watkins already ruled out of the season due to a torn ACL in her right knee, as per the official game-day availability report, Malia Samuels will also be out against Iowa.

Surprisingly, USC offered no clarification for her absence, leaving it unclear whether she is dealing with an injury, illness, or a precautionary measure.

But even in the Trojans’ last game, where they played against Michigan, Samuels was on the court for just 18 minutes and only managed to score 4 points. So there is a possibility that this may not be a season-ending issue, but rather a minor injury, illness, or even a short-term health and safety precaution. Still, the timing could not be worse for a team that is already operating without its top star.

In the 19 games that Samuels was a part of, she has averaged 24.4 minutes per game, with 2.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.5 points per game.

With both Watkins and Samuels now unavailable, USC will be missing its two main creators in the backcourt. That will put even more responsibility on freshman Jazzy Davidson and veteran guard Londynn Jones to stabilize the offense and handle Iowa’s relentless transition pressure.

The Hawkeyes thrive on forcing mistakes, speeding up the tempo, and punishing teams that lack experienced ball control. So it’s safe to say they will definitely use Malia Samuels’ absence to their advantage. The starting lineup for the Trojans could include stars such as Jazzy Davidson who is now back at a 100%.

Predicted starting lineups for USC vs Iowa

USC Trojans:

Iowa Hawkeyes:

Even though the Trojans enter this matchup without their star guard, they remain the favorites. ESPN Analytics predicts this game will favor the Trojans, giving USC a 53.1% chance of winning. Well, this is the team that handed Nebraska’s first loss despite Jazzy Davidson’s injury. But their margin for error is now far thinner against an Iowa team, and fans will be watching closely to see how the Trojans respond under pressure.

With their primary ball-handler sidelined against a top-10 opponent, the Trojans’ margin for error has all but disappeared, putting immense pressure on their remaining guards to step up.