OSU women's basketball tests title credentials
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Ohio State women's basketball faces two huge tests this week. Photo: Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Is the Ohio State women's basketball team a title contender? The next four days will go a long way toward telling us.
Why it matters: The OSU football team isn't the only Buckeye program competing at the top of its sport, as the women seek the program's first national championship in its 60-year history.
State of play: The Buckeyes (20-1) are currently ranked No. 8 in the country and second to undefeated UCLA in the Big Ten.
- They've played four ranked teams this season, but face their two toughest tests of 2025 back-to-back this week.
- OSU is in Los Angeles to play No. 1 UCLA on Wednesday and No. 7 USC on Saturday.
The star: Junior forward Cotie McMahon leads the team with 16.5 points per game while adding 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
- McMahon is the team's most nationally recognized player, appearing on multiple preseason award watchlists.
Who else we're watching: McMahon has plenty of help, particularly from freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge and junior guard Chance Gray.
- Cambridge is the team's playmaker who made her own midseason watch list, while sharp-shooting Gray tied the OSU record with nine three-pointers in her second game after transferring from Oregon.
- Inside, forwards Ajae Petty and Taylor Thierry are crucial rebounders and scorers.
Fun fact: This season marks the legendary Katie Smith's return to Ohio State as an assistant coach.
- The Logan native and 1996 OSU graduate is one of the best women's basketball players of all time, having been inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
📺 How to watch: Catch the Buckeyes against UCLA at 9:30pm Wednesday on Peacock and USC at 9pm Saturday on Fox.
