Change is inevitable — growth, however, is a choice. Alyson Miura, India Otto and Maddie Campbell are no strangers to that idea. Relics of a seemingly ancient past in USC women’s basketball, the trio has seen a great deal of change. From the academic advisors to the training staff, the nutritionists to the sports psychologists, the coaching staff and even the players in the locker room, the Trojan program has undergone a whirlwind of turnover in the last four years. At the eye of the storm, however, stand these three women — and they are not budging for anything.
In accepting the head coaching role at USC in 2021, Lindsay Gottlieb knew she had a challenge on her hands — but along with that challenge came an opportunity.
“This is a blank canvas to do something that’s never been done,” Gottlieb said in her introductory press conference. “This is a transcendent opportunity to have USC women’s basketball be different than any other program.”
The starting block was a sub-.500 program, seven years since its last March Madness appearance. The finish line is a national championship. The journey between will undoubtedly be a marathon — competing in USC’s conference is already a challenge in and of itself. This season, Pac-12 women’s basketball stands among the NCAA’s most competitive landscapes — from the explosive offensive firepower of Utah to the savvy experience of Arizona, to the sheer star power of schools like UCLA and Stanford, the Conference of Champions is host to powerhouse programs from nearly top to bottom.
In Gottlieb’s first season, the team struggled to gain its footing against the rest of the Pac, finishing just 5-12 in conference games. This disappointing year was followed by a mass exodus of players to the transfer portal, leaving just Miura, Otto, Campbell and three freshmen remaining on an otherwise decimated roster. The USC program appeared to require a defibrillator — but what it really needed was an anchor.
Or anchors.
After a disappointing 2021-22 season, Miura faced the same decision as many of her ex-teammates and friends. Most of them were entering the transfer portal, leaving an air of uncertainty around the futures of both USC women’s basketball and Miura herself. She could follow their lead — Miura, a knockdown shooter in a game increasingly defined by floor spacing, would undoubtedly have suitors — or she could step into the unknown. Miura, never one to run from a challenge, doubled down on her commitment to the Trojan program.
“I’ve had the idea since I was a freshman, that I would be part of the change,” Miura said. “I really liked the idea of being part of the group that gets [USC] there.”
The group that she had entered the program with, however, was nearly gone — all that remained were Miura, Otto and Campbell. And while the trio displayed immense courage in choosing to remain with USC, there was still a lot to fear: How much change was too much change to endure? Were the frustrations of the first season simply growing pains, or a sign of things to come? With the clock ticking on their eligibility, would they have a legitimate opportunity to accomplish their goals at USC? In light of the roster purge, however, one question was the most pressing.
“Are they going to bring in the right people?” Miura said the three were asking themselves. “That really had us scared.”
Despite the uncertainty, the timing was kismet — recent NCAA rule changes allowed athletes entering the transfer portal to have greater flexibility. Instead of having to sit out a season to compete, more transfers would have the opportunity to suit up as soon as they picked a new school. These loosened regulations set the stage for an unprecedented level of player mobility — a trend that USC would need to effectively capitalize upon.
Miura, Otto and Campbell were as much a part of the recruiting process as anyone — the trio of seniors could have a decent side hustle as student ambassadors with the number of tours they led over the visiting period. The effort was not without reward, however — by summer’s end, they were looking at a very new and very different squad. The locker room was a New Orleans-style gumbo of different players — from national champions to mid-major standouts, Los Angeles residents to native Malians, former Oregon Ducks to Arizona Wildcats, the new look USC roster was one of the most unique in all of college basketball. The Trojans certainly had a different feel to them — one that Miura enjoyed.
“I really feel like I can hang out with any single one of my teammates one-on-one,” Miura said. “And I feel like that’s hard to come by, especially in college when you don’t necessarily grow up with everyone.”
The chemistry was strong off the court — but to be competitive, they would need to gel on the court as well.
If one were to judge Otto based on stature alone, they would likely conclude her to be fairly unimposing. Spend time around the USC women’s basketball team, however, and you’ll find that she possesses arguably the strongest presence of anyone on the squad. Known off the court for her silly, lighthearted and kind nature, Otto is a gentle soul — between those lines, however, the former CIF State Champion is a fierce competitor.
Director of player development Courtney Jaco has seen Otto grow over the course of a decade. Their relationship predates either of their time at USC, as a young Otto used to attend Jaco’s high school basketball games at Windward School. Since that time, Jaco has attended and played for the USC women’s team, played professionally overseas, and now coaches for the program. Arguably, no one on planet Earth has a better perspective on where USC women’s basketball has been — and where it’s headed — than Jaco.
“People always throw around the word culture,” Jaco said, “but that’s been our biggest emphasis as a staff, building a winning culture: getting people out of their comfort zones, having the hard conversations, doing the hard things.”
Even for Trojans, however, Rome cannot be built in a day. The growth process would be slow, intentional, even tedious at times — a day-to-day charge to resist the temptations of complacency. For Otto, this commitment isn’t always easy — particularly when her role requires her to step up by stepping aside. The competitor in her wants to be on the court for forty minutes a game; the great teammate in her, however, understands that she must defer.
“I understand that there are other people that are going to play ahead of me,” Otto said. “I’m always ready, whether you need two minutes or 10 minutes or no minutes from me. But I understand my role is to be here for everybody and push our team forward.”
Otto may not see the floor as often as her teammates, but don’t be fooled — a student of the game, she understands what’s going on on the hardwood as well as anyone. In this way, Otto has made her impact felt. Coach Gottlieb’s system isn’t an easy one to comprehend — influenced by her experience in the NBA, the former Cavaliers assistant emphasizes player movement, live-action reads and 3-point shooting. She challenges and trusts her team to make nuanced plays, which undoubtedly makes for a dynamic offense when run correctly. However, the learning curve has been steeper for some of the players.
Kayla Williams was nervous as she took the Galen Center practice court for the first time. Arriving at USC by way of UC Irvine, the Power Five experience was new to her — she dominated at her mid-major, but now Williams was stepping the floor with national champions and McDonald’s All-American players every day. She knew she belonged, but she yearned to show that she belonged — and as a point guard, it was difficult to do so without having a strong handle on the offense.
“[Learning the offense] was definitely a struggle, and it affected my confidence at times,” Williams said. “But I know Otto knows her stuff. If I’m ever confused, I know I can go to her.”
In the preseason, it was Otto’s voice in the post-practice huddle holding Williams and her other teammates accountable for understanding the system. During the season, it has been that same voice which has rung loudest in support from the sideline. The senior guard may not see as much game action as her teammates, but her impact is resounding in a plethora of other areas — from running scout team during practice, to leading the defense chants during games, to offering a set of ears to listen or a shoulder to cry upon, Otto serves honorably in her role as the glue that keeps them together.
“She could have done anything with her basketball career,” Jaco said, “but she wanted to be here, and be part of the culture and legacy here. She’s really made an impact.”
Campbell has played her last basketball game for the Cardinal and Gold. Sidelined by a back injury that has already required two surgeries, Campbell’s concern at this point is her long-term health, not her jump shot. A former Gatorade Player of the Year finalist and McDonald’s All-American nominee, her health concerns have proven disheartening — that frustration, however, has not kept Campbell from supporting her teammates.
“It’s hard,” Campbell said of her injury issues, “but I still have a big part in this team. The girls need me.”
At the start of every USC game, you can find Campbell in front of the Trojan bench, ready to greet each of the starters with an individualized handshake. During the game, you can find her at the end of the bench, infusing energy into her team with her enduring positive energy — a spirit that has helped the Trojans to surge to their best season in nearly a decade. A smile never leaves Campbell’s face — even though in her heart of hearts, she wishes it was her on that court.
“It’s hard when you’re injured,” Jaco said. “You’re still trying to figure out how to be a part of the team and what that looks like. Her role has changed.”
USC’s 19-8 start is a strong turnaround for a team that finished last season with just twelve wins. The team has already accomplished a great deal this year, from beating national powerhouse Stanford to ascending to the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2016. With the tournament play just around the corner, however, the true test is yet to come. As the Trojans finish their regular season this weekend against Washington and Washington State, the program looks ahead to the Pac-12 tournament and potentially — hopefully — March Madness.
Perhaps it will be a good thing to have Campbell — whom many consider to be like a parent in the locker room — around the team during such a trying period.
“She’s definitely like a mom,” Williams said. “She’s always there, making sure we’re on top of things and helping us out when we need it — and she’ll be honest when we need it too.”
Like a good parent, Campbell understands that her role is no longer about her. It’s about the family, the Trojan family. So through the mental and physical toll of rehabilitation and the yearning for what could have been with her own career, Campbell is committed to showing up for her teammates.
“I didn’t leave when it got tough,” Campbell said. “I still do have a big part in this team … I look at it as a challenge every day, to best support my teammates in my senior year.”
With Coach Gottlieb continuing to gain her footing in the program, talented young players such as Taylor Bigby, Aaliyah Gayles and Rayah Marshall in the fold and even the No. 1 recruit in the nation Juju Watkins on the way, the USC’s women’s basketball program appears poised to make a resurgence to the national spotlight. As fun as it may be to look ahead, however, this season’s Trojans are taking things one day at a time, rebuilding their Colosseum brick by brick. In the process, they acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices made by those who laid the foundation for the future.
“[Miura, Otto and Campbell] have done a really good job at not putting themselves first and putting what the team needs and wants at the root of everything,” Jaco said. “[Staying] was a very difficult choice but I commend them for it.”
The trio have just about seen it all — but when asked what their aspirations for the remainder of their time at USC, their focus shifted to one thing that they’ve yet to experience.
“The tournament,” Otto said.
“March Madness,” Campbell said.
“It’s kind of sad if a college hooper goes their whole career and never makes it to the NCAA tournament,” Miura added.
Time can only tell if the Trojan triumvirate will get to check the March Madness tournament off their bucket list. With USC rolling, however, Miura, Otto and Campbell — the anchors of USC women’s basketball program — appear to be well on their way.
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