The team rose to prominence in 1976, at which time scholarships became available to female basketball players.

Following the successful 1982 season, in which USC reached the Elite Eight of the first NCAA tournament, the Trojans went on to win national championships in 1983 and 1984.

The 1983 championship team included three All-Americans, Paula McGee, Cheryl Miller, and Rhonda Windham.

In 2006 USC opened the Galen Center, which was the new home of the Women of Troy.

To date, eleven players who played for USC have won Olympic medals.