26
Oct
Aussies in NCAAW
Preseason Epic: Fagan's USC beats Cal's Aussie trio
USC Trojans forward Sitaya Fagan (1) holds her hands up asking how during the women's college basketball exhibition game between the California Golden Bears and the USC Trojans on October 25, 2026, at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Highlights
A quartet of Aussie stars took the stage at an NCAA preseason blockbuster between USC and California
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Sitaya Fagan played her first game for USC on Sunday (US time), and three Australians were lined up on the other side.
The Trojans beat California 78-76 in a preseason exhibition in front of 4,748 fans at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. The best Australian on the floor, though, wore Cal gold: Lulu Twidale scored 25 points for the Golden Bears, who also played freshmen Ruby Perkins and Zara Russell.
Fagan came off the bench for 21 minutes. She scored four points on 2-from-6 shooting, missed both of her three-point attempts, and had three rebounds, two of them offensive, plus an assist.
It was a quiet first outing in a deep USC rotation. Fellow freshman Saniyah Hall led the Trojans with 23 points, while Jazzy Davidson and JuJu Watkins added 18 each. Hall has hurt Australia before: she scored 25 and was named tournament MVP when the USA beat a Gems side featuring Fagan, Perkins and Russell 88-76 in the 2025 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup final.
Fagan is part of Australia's NCAA freshman class, but she already has senior international experience. She made her Opals debut against China at John Cain Arena in July, aged 18, and scored four points in a 76-74 win.
Twidale is the reason Cal nearly won. The senior from the Sunshine Coast scored 25 on 8-from-22 shooting, including 3-from-12 from three, made all six of her free throws, and added nine rebounds and three steals before finishing on five fouls.
The game was tied 33-all at half-time. Cal trailed by four after three quarters and won the last 25-23, but could not find the final basket.
Twidale goes into her last college season after a junior year that included 36 points at Boston College and 32 at Pittsburgh.
Perkins started and played 31 minutes. She scored nine points, two threes from six attempts and three free throws, with five rebounds and two assists.
The Norths junior was MVP when she led New South Wales to the 2025 Under-20 National Championship, and played NBL1 East for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders last season before moving to Berkeley.
Russell got a lot done in 19 minutes off the bench: six points on 2-from-3 shooting, both makes from three, plus five rebounds and two steals.
The Canberra forward was Fagan's teammate at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, and captained the CoE's NBL1 East side to the 2025 Grand Final. She has built her name as a defender who can guard several positions. Two threes from two attempts is a good sign for the other end.
Cal could have a fourth Australian next season. Queensland guard Olivia Olechnowicz, a development player with the Bendigo Spirit, has committed to the Golden Bears.
- Sitaya Fagan (USC): 4 points, 2-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 21 minutes, bench
- Lulu Twidale (California): 25 points, 8-22 FG, 3-12 3PT, 6-6 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 34 minutes, starter
- Ruby Perkins (California): 9 points, 2-9 FG, 2-6 3PT, 3-3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 31 minutes, starter
- Zara Russell (California): 6 points, 2-3 FG, 2-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 19 minutes, bench
Another Aussie young gun is also set to join California next season after Queensland star and Bendigo Spirit player Olivia Olechnowicz announced her commitment to the university.
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