When Londynn Jones first arrived at UCLA, she had one thing on her mind: “I just hope to leave a legacy.”And for three years, she was doing that. She was the spark off the bench and the trusted closer in big moments of a Bruins team that clinched the Big Ten Tournament title and reached its first-ever NCAA Final Four this past season. But there’s a new move now, and fans are not sure how well that statement is going to age.

A couple of weeks into the off-season, the UCLA head coach has watched her entire 2024 recruiting class walk. And now, the twist: Jones is staying in L.A. but switching sides, announcing on Monday that she’s committing to USC. “Best of both worlds, LA… I’m still here,” she wrote. Just like that, one of the key contributors of UCLA’s rise is now teaming up with JuJu Watkins and the rival Trojans, a move that’s left fans stunned and has sparked serious questions about fit, timing, and what USC is building for its next title push.

Jones has been a star in her own right at UCLA. She set the program record with 87 made threes in 2023–24, shooting 36.6% from deep. She followed it up this past season with another 72 treys on 35.1% shooting, proving she’s not just a streaky shooter—she’s a consistent threat from beyond the arc. But is she the right pick for the Trojans?

Yes, the UCLA-USC rivalry has been hot of late, both rallying as the top teams. Their matchup last season even managed to pull in a sold-out arena weeks before the game. For more spice, Juju Watkins was even heard saying, ‘I hate UCLA’– all in competitiveness, of course. So, a move from one of these programs to another is naturally frowned upon. The last time someone did this was in December 2022, when Dominique Onu moved from the Bruins to USC after two seasons. But the distaste from fans this time around isn’t about rivalry.

Lauren Betts gave her approval, too. “I love u so much Deezy my fav Trojan,” she wrote. What it is really about is…

USC isn’t in one of its best looks right now. Juju Watkins’ next season is uncertain. 2 of Lindsey Gottlieb’s freshmen, who stepped up when it mattered, have entered the portal. Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall are gearing up to grace the pro league soon. What the HC needs right now are bigs who would fit into the Trojans’ defensive identity.

This past season, USC held opponents to a 39.7% effective field goal percentage and a 43.9% true shooting percentage—both among the best marks in the country. Against Kansas State, it was those defensive stops that bought USC time to adjust and make a late push. But Marshall—one of the most versatile defenders in the nation is gone now.

Gottlieb hasn’t made any big transfer moves, save for Kara Dunn, who will be overseeing the backcourt. Now, add Londynn Jones to the mix. A proven shot-maker. A composed, high-IQ guard. Someone who doesn’t get rattled in crunch time. On paper, it adds to USC’s roster. But off paper? That’s where the drama starts.

Londynn Jones’ move doesn’t get an approval

When Londynn Jones announced she was swapping UCLA blue for USC red, the internet didn’t exactly roll out a red carpet. There was no fireworks show. 

One fan summed it up pretty bluntly: “I don’t understand this move for either side except location for Londynn.” On paper, it feels like a lateral move—just crossing town from Westwood to South Central. But once you zoom in, it starts to click a little more. Yes, it’s about staying close to home. But more than that, USC is in reboot mode. And Jones, with her shooting, may not be the perfect puzzle piece they need.

 “They already have Malia,” another fan pointed out—and that’s not just nitpicking. Malia Samuels was huge in the tournament. Clutch three, gritty defense, smart decisions. She’s carved out her space. So the big question becomes: can Jones, who was used to having the ball in her hands at UCLA, adjust to a system that’s more structured, more defensive? 

Then there’s the elephant in the locker room: JuJu Watkins. Or more accurately, the absence of JuJu Watkins. She averaged 23.9 points, nearly seven boards, over three assists, and was a complete game-changer every time she stepped on the floor. With not much on the roster right now, except for Dunn’s veteran backcourt presence, one fan put it: “Ok. This can’t work. But they still need to replace JuJu’s scoring.”

That’s where Jones steps in—not to be JuJu, because no one can—but to help fill the vacuum. Her 8.5 points per game last season might not scream star power, but provided the depth when Betts ran the show. She will help, but fans don’t think it will be enough.

“Ok cool, but we need bigs to replace KiKi, Rayah, and Clarice,” one fan wrote. With the former two in W now, Clarice Akunwafo hit the portal. That’s a massive hole in the frontcourt. Gottlieb has managed to add the No.1 recruit, Jazzy Davidson, who is expected to help on both ends of the floor. So at 5’4″, Jones isn’t exactly standing out. 

“Give us some good news to be excited about coach,” came a request. The head coach has about 5 roster spots to fill, and with the way things stand right now, nothing is screaming dominant for the upcoming season. USC needs a star player, and they need it yesterday. Three on the roster have barely managed to come off the bench for more than 7 minutes per game. The Trojans are gonna need strength and experience, and per fans, Jones is not it. Or at least not 100%.

So yeah, fans are torn. Some are worried. Some are intrigued. But everyone’s watching. Because adding Londynn Jones doesn’t answer all of USC’s questions, but it does change the equation. Who knows, maybe she could pen that legacy here.