2024 NCAA Lacrosse Preview: No. 16 USC (Women)

The 2024 Division I women's college lacrosse season kicks off February 9. As is our annual tradition, we’re featuring every team ranked in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 in the lead up to opening day. Check back to USALaxMagazine.com each weekday this month for new previews, scouting reports and rival analysis.

NO. 16 USC 

2023 Record: 16-4 (9-1 Pac-12) 
Final Ranking (2023): No. 16 
Head Coach: Lindsey Munday 
Assistants: Lauren Gunning, Asa Goldstock, Josh Shoemaker

USC returns its starting goalie, seven leading goal scorers and a solid core of defenders for the 2024 season. The biggest news for the Women of Troy happened this summer and was out of their control — 2024 will mark the final season for USC in the Pac-12. The news of the Trojans’ departure for the Big Ten was the first of several realignment headlines, including rival Stanford’s move to the ACC. And so, 2024 will be the last time (at least for the foreseeable future) that the Pac-12 will have a women’s lacrosse champion.

Some coaches may brush off the idea that being the league’s last champion would mean something. USC head coach Lindsey Munday is not one of them.

“It is important to acknowledge being a part of the Pac-12 conference, which was great for us and the sport of lacrosse on the West Coast,” Munday said. “You want to win regardless, but we want to do everything we can to leave the Pac-12 and enter the Big 10 in the best spot possible.”

The USC enters the year as the defending champion of the Pac-12. Winning the league crown last year was redemption. The Trojans were upset by Arizona State in the semifinals in 2022 and lost to Stanford in the finals in 2021. The long list of returners puts USC in the driver’s seat to repeat. 

TOP RETURNERS

Isabelle Vitale, A, R-Jr. (37G, 35A) 
Kait Devir, G, Sr. (7.65GAA, .453SV%) 
Catherine Lord, D, Jr. (76DC, 21CT, 31GB) 

Truly, it’s hard to narrow down the list of top returners to three, but those are the rules here. Defensively, USC is almost always one of the nation’s best, and last year was no exception. The Trojans were fifth nationally in scoring defense (8 goals per game).

“They want to be No. 1,” Munday said. “They have a desire to continue to get better. We can play zone, man, higher-pressure zone, lower. To have the versatility and IQ they have is their greatest asset.”

Though Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Olivia Dooley departed for Notre Dame, Lord, who also led the team in draws, returns. And Kait Devir, who finished third nationally in save percentage, is back with more confidence.

KEY ADDITIONS

Kayla Frank, M, Gr. (17G, 10A, 25DC, 23GB, 20CT at Virginia Tech) 
Lily Bunting, M, Fr. (149 points, 267GB, 202DC, 112CT at Lenape, N.J.) 
Anna Regan, M, Fr. (Helped St Paul’s School, Md., to IAAM A championships in 2021, 2022)

To be frank, it’ll be a challenge to crack the Trojans’ veteran-heavy lineup this year. No pun intended, but Frank has one of the best shots. The speedy two-way midfielder was game-tested, starting all 19 games and going toe-to-toe with the nation’s best in the ACC. Her impact all over the field can only bolster USC in 2024.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Katie Ramsay, M; Emma Wightman, D 
Transfers: Olivia Dooley, D (Notre Dame)