LOS ANGELES, Calif. – NM State women’s basketball tips off the 2025-26 season tonight on the road against one of the nation’s top programs as the Aggies face No. 18 USC inside the Galen Center.
This marks the first-ever meeting between NM State and USC and the Aggies’ first matchup against a Big Ten opponent since 2015 when they faced No. 1 seed Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. The last time NM State beat a Big Ten team came in 2009 with a 72-67 win over Michigan in the NMSU Thanksgiving Classic.
Head Coach Jody Adams begins her fourth season in charge after guiding the Aggies to an 18-16 record and a 10-8 mark in Conference USA play last year. That finish secured a spot in the league tournament and marked the program’s first winning conference record since joining CUSA. NM State’s 18 wins matched the most under Adams, continuing a steady rise for the Crimson and White.
The Aggies will look different this season after graduating much of last year’s production, returning just 16 percent of their scoring and 15 percent of their three-point shooting. Adams and her staff reloaded with eight newcomers, including five transfers and three freshmen. New faces like Morane Dossou, Iyana Beh, and Lucia Lara add depth to the frontcourt, while guards Keira Hudson, DeAvion Wilson, and Nikki Stanic bring fresh energy to the perimeter.
The roster also includes local connection Emma Christiano, a Las Cruces native who starred at Las Cruces High School before returning home to suit up for the Aggies. Adams also enters the season with a refreshed coaching staff featuring newcomers Kayla Tucker and Myron Brown, along with associate head coach James Frey and assistant Preston Planells.
The Aggies open against a powerhouse USC team led by Naismith Trophy winner Juju Watkins, who helped guide the Lady Trojans to the Elite Eight last season. USC enters 2025-26 ranked No. 18 in the AP preseason poll and adds elite transfers like Londynn Jones from UCLA and Kara Dunn from Georgia Tech, as well as the nation’s top high school recruit Jazzy Davidson. Head Coach Lindsey Gottlieb has turned USC into a national contender, posting a 93-36 record in her first four seasons and capturing a Big Ten regular-season title last year.
NM State will look to test itself early against one of the nation’s best and use this matchup as a measuring stick for its new lineup. With returning veterans like Lucia Yenes and Imani Warren setting the tone and a wave of new talent ready to make its mark, the Aggies aim to open their 2025-26 campaign with fight, focus, and the same defensive edge that defined last season’s success.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. MT and you can watch on Big Ten Plus.