It’s not often a No. 1 seed can legitimately complain about their placement. This year’s Selection Sunday proved otherwise in how they slotted USC.
Ask coach Lindsay Gottlieb any other year, and she’d happily take being a No. 1 seed. After the conclusion of the 2025 regular season and conference tournament, however, that’s not quite the case. She and even many neutral college basketball fans are justifiably upset with the final decisions made by the committee.
Being selected for the highest position in any region is a great recognition. Even at the top, though, not all No. 1 spots are viewed the same. UCLA, despite losing twice to USC during the year, grabbed the overall first slot. In the eyes of the Sunday Selection decision-makers, the Bruins are the best team in the land. They are followed by Texas and South Carolina.
Again, while not entirely a slight, Coach Gottlieb voiced her frustration with the final verdict. Speaking with reporters, the Trojans HC offered the following, as shared by Ryan Kartje of the LA Times:
Lindsay Gottlieb was not happy with USC being the 4th overall No. 1 seed.
“I never thought I’d be a 1 seed and feel disrespected,” Gottlieb said.
“Sometimes I don’t understand the people who make decisions in women’s college basketball and why they do what they do.” pic.twitter.com/hErcL8Dzw3
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) March 17, 2025
This quote is telling. The four-year head of the program understands that it may come across as silly to some to express frustration over this aspect. All teams, regardless of whether they are the highest or lowest top seed, ultimately have the same path to potentially face off in the Final Four.
Anymore, across either side of the March Madness tournament, the regions and placement often have very little to do with logic or consistent reasoning. It’s more about the principle of the issue. If the group evaluating and shaping the format has a skewed outlook on college basketball, then it presents a problem.
So while for some, being ranked as the third or fourth team overall may not make a difference, it indicates how those who can impact the sport are flawed in their approach. There’s a clear recency bias in the eyes of the committee. For some, only the latter half, more specifically the conference tournaments, holds the most weight.
Evaluation and season ranking, however, should be over the course of the entirety of the season. In the case of USC in particular, the Trojans defeated the Bruins by convincing margins at home and at the UCLA campus. Their loss came in a close five-point game in a neutral environment. Having the likely Women’s Naismith Player of the Year and a strong supporting cast makes it all the more astonishing that coach Gottlieb’s side was, in a sense, snubbed.
Time for USC to put this in the rearview mirror
It’s important for the Trojans’ HC to stick up for her players and program. Those on the roster need to know that their leader will always advocate for them, especially when a wrong decision is made against them.
Everyone in the locker room knows, though, that the real goal needs to remain in sight. It’s fine to use the seeding as a form of motivation. To dwell on it too much longer will take focus away from their upcoming game against UNC Greensboro. While fans may have wanted a potential USC game against UConn to take place during the Final Four, this group may take equal pleasure in sending the Huskies home early. Then facing and eliminating UCLA from there would be just as fitting.
