No. 4 UConn and No. 7 USC meet for much-hyped women’s basketball matchup

The GIST: Several top-25 basketball games are on tap this weekend, but none bigger than Paige Bueckers’ No. 4 UConn taking on JuJu Watkins’ No. 7 USC tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The definition of can’t-miss.

UConn remains resilient through injuries: The Huskies are led by sensational senior Bueckers and her 20.6 average points per game, but she’s not the only Husky to keep an eye on. Sarah “Freshman of the Year favorite” Strong is posting eye-popping numbers of her own while picking up the slack as grad student Azzi Fudd battles injuries.

• Oh, and legendary HC Geno Auriemma said Strong is like three players in one. High praise.

USC building around local star: The Trojans have their own dynamic duo in reigning Freshman of the Year Watkins and forward Kiki Iriafen. Watkins averages 24.7 points per game, and both she and Iriafen are preseason All-Americans.

• After a 39-year Final Four drought, the Women of Troy are so back — and this could be the season, but first, they need to withstand this top-10 test.

The history: Adding even more drama to an already spicy matchup, these squads met in the Elite Eight last season. UConn got the better of USC, winning 80–73. Who’s it going to be this time around?