USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb voiced her frustration over the Trojans’ No. 1 seed placement, believing the selection committee undervalued her team despite their strong season. Here’s why she felt disrespected:
- USC Defeated UCLA Twice but Ranked Lower – The Trojans beat UCLA convincingly both at home and on the road, yet UCLA was awarded the tournament’s top overall seed while USC was placed as the fourth No. 1 seed.
- Inconsistent Selection Criteria – Gottlieb questioned the decision-making process, arguing that the selection committee lacked logic and fairness in how they ranked teams.
-
lindsay gottlieb - Recency Bias in the Committee’s Evaluation – She believed too much weight was given to late-season and conference tournament performances, rather than assessing the full season’s body of work.
- Lack of Recognition for USC’s Strength – With a standout roster, including the likely Women’s Naismith Player of the Year, USC had proven itself as one of the top teams, yet the ranking didn’t reflect that dominance.
- Concerns About the Decision-Makers – Gottlieb openly expressed frustration with the people responsible for making these rankings, stating that their decisions were difficult to understand and sometimes illogical.
While she acknowledged that every No. 1 seed has a path to the Final Four, she felt that USC’s placement demonstrated a lack of respect for what the team had accomplished throughout the season.
