The USC women’s basketball team has made national headlines over the years for their dominating play, tremendous fan following, and effervescent personalities on and off the court. Now, they are making international headlines as well.
On Wednesday, USC announced that the Gamecocks will face Notre Dame in Paris, France, on Monday, November 6th. The historic matchup will mark the first time an NCAA regular-season basketball game has been played on Parisian soil.
USC Media Release:
“We did not hesitate to accept the invitation” said USC head coach Dawn Staley. “Playing Notre Dame in Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our student-athletes, and I’m thankful for the support of our administration and our donors.”
“It’s always been my mission to break barriers and provide opportunities for my players to have life-changing experiences,” said Notre Dame HC Niele Ivey. “Women’s basketball is on the rise, and having this exposure will help to grow the game on an international level.”
In the City of Light, fans will see two teams that have already been declared pre-season Top 10. South Carolina had three players selected in the top 10 picks 2023 WNBA Draft, including overall No. 1 Aliyah Boston, but a new era begins with SEC All-Freshman guard Raven Johnson and 2023 SEC Sixth Woman of the Year Kamilla Cardoso, plus three top-25 signees from the Class of 2023, headlined by local Columbia, SC, point guard Milaysia Fulwiley.
Coach Ivey has a strong core of players again this year, led by All-American guard Olivia Miles, who is always a threat to turn a triple-double. Miles is joined by 6-1 rebounding guard Sonia Citron and 6-3 forward Maddy Westbeld, who were members of the 2023 All-ACC First and Second Teams, respectively. Ivey will also add two five-star recruits this summer, including Hannah Hidalgo out of Haddonfield, N.J. She already had top-20 2023 guard Cassandre Prosper on her roster this winter as an early enrollee.
The unprecedented match-up was created by Complete Sports Management, founded by Lea Miller-Tooley, who has created experiences for college teams by taking them all over the world for more than a decade.
“We are honored to partner with two of the most respected and dominant teams in women’s college basketball,” said Miller-Tooley, “while showcasing one of the most iconic cities in the world. This historic game will set a new standard.”
Game ticket packages and venue will be confirmed at a later date this spring, along with the television partner.
