1985–86 USC Trojans women's basketball team

Intercollegiate basketball season March 2026 April 2024 Women's basketball 1985–86 USC Trojans USC Trojans logo.svg 100px Pacific West Conference Pac-West 2 3 31–5 8–0 Linda Sharp 9th L.A. Sports Arena Pac-West champions NCAA tournament Runner-up The 1985–86 USC Trojans women's basketball team represented the University of Southern California during the 1985–86 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The squad was led by ninth-year head coach Linda Sharp and superstar Cheryl Miller. The Trojans played their home games at the L.A. Sports Arena and were members of the Pacific West Conference. The Women of Troy finished the regular season with a 27–4 record (8–0 WCAA) and the No. 3 ranking in the AP poll. As the top seed in the West region of the NCAA tournament, USC played the entire regional near their home city of Los Angeles. The team defeated Montana, North Carolina, and Louisiana Tech to earn the school's third Final Four appearance. In the national semifinals, USC easily defeated Tennessee, 83–59. In the National Championship Game, the Trojans played No. 1 and unbeaten Texas. The Longhorns were too much for USC as they won the title by a score of 97–81 to secure the program's first NCAA title. Miller capped her career with over 3,000 points, multiple player of the year awards, and two national championships, and remains one of the most decorated women's college basketball players of all time. Her number 31 jersey was the first basketball jersey men's or women's to be retired at USC. Previous season The 1984–85 USC Trojans women's basketball team finished with an overall record of 20–9 and a No. 15 ranking in the final AP poll. They reached the Sweet Sixteen of the women's NCAA tournament before losing to No. 3 Long Beach State, 74–72, in the West regional semifinal round. Roster W 1985 USC Trojans y y w Rhonda Windham y 21 G Jr yes Bronx, New York w Cheryl Miller y 31 F 6 2 Sr Riverside, California Riverside Polytechnic w Cynthia Cooper y 44 G 5 10 Sr Los Angeles, California Locke Cynthia Cooper-Dyke Linda Sharp (Cal State Fullerton) https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/1985-86 Schedule yes yes 1985-86 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings 1985 yes yes no |- !colspan=9 style=USC Trojans| Regular season Nov 22, 1985 yes 7 1985 women BYU Cougars BYU L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 102–53 1–0 Nov 26, 1985 yes yes 7 1985 women Pepperdine Waves Pepperdine Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, California 94–50 2–0 Nov 29, 1985 yes yes 7 1985 women Saint Joseph's Hawks Saint Joseph's Cole Field House College Park, Maryland Maryland Tournament 96–66 3–0 Nov 30, 1985 yes yes 7 1985 women Maryland Terrapins Maryland Cole Field House College Park, Maryland Maryland Tournament 76–54 4–0 Dec 5, 1985 yes 5 1985 women Indiana Hoosiers Indiana L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 99–53 5–0 Dec 7, 1985 yes yes 5 1985 women Cal Poly Pomona Broncos Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Gym Pomona, California 88–56 6–0 Dec 10, 1985 yes 4 yes 1 Texas Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas 78–94 11,470 6–1 Dec 13, 1985 yes 4 Tennessee 11 L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 85–77 7–1 Dec 22, 1985 yes 3 1985 women Oregon State Beavers Oregon State L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 117–55 8–1 Dec 27, 1985 yes 3 1985 women Missouri Tigers Missouri L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California Transamerica-USC Tournament 118–68 9–1 Dec 28, 1985 yes 3 1985 none Georgia Lady Bulldogs Georgia 2 L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California Transamerica-USC Tournament 70–67 10–1 Jan 3, 1986 yes 2 1985 none Old Dominion Lady Monarchs Old Dominion Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, California 89–76 11–1 Jan 6, 1986 yes yes 2 1985 none Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters Louisiana Tech 5 Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana 53–75 11–2 Jan 8, 1986 yes yes 2 1985 women Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State 15 St. John Arena Columbus, Ohio 83–81 OT 12–2 Jan 14, 1986 yes yes 5 1985 women Cal State Fullerton Titans Cal State Fullerton Titan Gym Fullerton, California 80–68 13–2 Jan 16, 1986 5 1985 women Arizona Wildcats Arizona L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 92–72 14–2 1–0 Jan 18, 1986 5 1985 women Arizona State Sun Devils Arizona State L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 95–61 15–2 2–0 Jan 25, 1986 yes 5 1985 women Stanford Cardinal Stanford Maples Pavilion Palo Alto, California 81–59 16–2 3–0 Jan 26, 1986 yes yes 4 1985 women California Golden Bears California Harmon Gym Berkeley, California 86–70 17–2 Jan 28, 1986 yes 4 1985 women Long Beach State 49ers Long Beach State 7 L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 75–76 17–3 Feb 1, 1986 4 1985 women UCLA Bruins UCLA L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 89–67 18–3 4–0 Feb 4, 1986 yes yes 4 1985 women San Diego State Aztecs San Diego State Peterson Gymnasium San Diego, California 91–73 19–3 Feb 8, 1986 yes 4 Cal State Fullerton L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 87–64 20–3 Feb 14, 1986 yes 4 Arizona State ASU Activity Center Tempe, Arizona 80–57 21–3 5–0 Feb 15, 1986 yes 4 Arizona McKale Center Tucson, Arizona 83–67 22–3 6–0 Feb 20, 1986 4 Stanford L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 88–62 23–3 7–0 Feb 22, 1986 yes 7 Long Beach State 4 L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California 99–68 24–3 Feb 28, 1986 yes yes 4 1985 women Utah State Aggies Utah State Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska Northern Lights Invitational 115–45 25–3 Mar 1, 1986 yes yes 4 1985 women SMU Mustangs SMU Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska Northern Lights Invitational 121–61 26–3 Mar 2, 1986 yes yes 4 1985 women Northeast Louisiana Indians NE Louisiana Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska Northern Lights Invitational 68–70 26–4 Mar 6, 1986 yes 4 UCLA Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, California Rivalry 89–57 27–4 8–0 |- !colspan=12 style=USC Trojans| NCAA tournament Mar 16, 1986 yes 3 1 W 1985 none Montana Lady Griz Montana 8 W L.A. Sports Arena Los Angeles, California Second round 81–50 28–4 Mar 21, 1983 yes yes 3 1 W 1985 women North Carolina Tar Heels North Carolina 16 4 W Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California Regional Semifinal Sweet Sixteen 84–70 29–4 Mar 23, 1986 yes yes 3 1 W 1985 none Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters Louisiana Tech 4 2 W Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California Regional Final Elite Eight 80–64 30–4 Mar 28, 1986 yes yes 3 1 W Tennessee 15 4 ME Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky National Semifinal Final Four 83–59USC Women Win, and It's Without a Fight https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-29-sp-1386-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 29, 1986 April 21, 2024 31–4 Mar 30, 1986 yes yes 3 1 W Texas 1 1 MW Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky National Championship 81–97Texas Is a Perfect 34-0 as Longhorns Stop Miller, Win Women's NCAA Title https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-31-sp-2161-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 31, 1986 April 21, 2024 31–5 Pacific Time AP Poll W West Source: USCTrojans.comhttps://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/1985-86 1985-86 USC Women's Basketball Schedule USCTrojans.com April 21, 2024 Rankings 1985–86 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings AP 0 15 7 5 4 3 3 2 2 5 5 4 7 7 7 4 4 3 Coaches 0 16 7 5 3 3 3 2 2 5 5 4 7 7 7 5 3 3 2 Awards and honors Notes References External links USC Athletics Site Category:USC Trojans women's basketball seasons USC Trojans basketball, women USC Trojans basketball, women USC Trojans basketball, women USC Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Final Four seasons