This Wednesday, Juju Watkins and her squad picked up yet another win—without even having to play a game. It all began when the wildfire broke out in LA, forcing several matchups to be rescheduled. Northwestern basketball vs. USC was one of them, as the Wildcats decided not to travel due to safety concerns. While the decision seemed understandable given the circumstances, it didn’t sit well with the Big Ten.
The Wildcats were originally scheduled to visit Pauley Pavilion on January 12th, followed by the Galen Center on the 15th. Given that the Wildfires had only started three days before and were yet to be contained, Northwestern’s concern was considerable. However, eyebrows were raised when both Iowa’s men’s team and Penn State’s women’s basketball team traveled and played that same week.
Now, months in, the Big Ten made it official—those unplayed games are now forfeits for Northwestern as per the Conference rules.
“The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that Northwestern’s women’s basketball contests at UCLA (Jan. 12) and at USC (Jan. 15) will not be rescheduled… Per Conference rules, forfeitures will be assessed to Northwestern. As a result, the Wildcats will receive two losses in the conference standings, while UCLA and USC will each be credited with a win,” Ben Stevens of Sports Grid reported.
But they weren’t the only sports team to cite safety measures in postponing the game.
The NFL moved a PLAYOFF game due to the wildfires in LA.
The NBA postponed games due to the wildfires in LA.
But Northwestern is now forced to forfeit games because they made a difficult decision to not travel to LA due to the devastating wildfires?
That’s not right. https://t.co/DC3T0ex9Ym
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 26, 2025
The LA Lakers had to reschedule 2 of their games due to the calamity, while NFL postponed one of their playoff matchup. NBA has previously too considered rescheduling due to winter storm in Atlanta. But elevating the case for Big Ten is the fact that the UCLA reportedly mentioned that the wildfires weren’t posing a threat to the campus and even offered a different venue to play at. Not taking up the offer certainly has cost the Wildcats.
But the Northwestern women’s basketball team didn’t take the decision lightly. They defended their choice, emphasizing the well-being of their student-athletes.
“While we acknowledge that bylaws and rules are in place for a reason and we will abide by them, it does not diminish this team’s sound reasoning for not participating during this natural disaster,” Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said in a statement.
This is a huge blow for the Wildcats sitting at 9-17. However, their appeal didn’t change the Big Ten’s stance. But there’s a silver lining—for Juju Watkins and company, as well as their crosstown rivals, UCLA.
After the Wildcats’ forfeit games, the battle for the Big Ten’s top spot heats up
The Big Ten’s decision unexpectedly benefited both teams. It may not have been the way they expected to climb the rankings, but in a season where every game matters, they’ll take it.
USC now stands first in the Big Ten with a 25-2 record and ranks No. 4 in this week’s AP poll. No doubt, this strengthens their case for a deep March Madness run. Now, they have just one game left in the regular season—against UCLA.
Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during an NCAA Women’s Tournament 2nd round game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a six-game win streak after their loss to Iowa, USC is as dominant as ever. Their schedule has also been favorable, as they hosted both their games last week. Meanwhile, UCLA still has another road trip to finish against Wisconsin. The Bruins currently stand second in the conference at 26-1—one loss fewer than the Trojans—giving them a chance to take over the top spot.
Now USC vs. UCLA is one of the most anticipated matchups. The Trojans snapped their in-state rival’s undefeated streak the last time they met. Will they be able to repeat the heroics?
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