• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 17, 2025

Northwestern Women’s Basketball Forfeits Games After Not Traveling to L.A. Amid Fires

The Wildcats skipped their Southern California trip during the fires, though Penn State still went for their games.

Northwestern basketball
Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

As wildfires raged in Los Angeles in early January, the Northwestern women’s basketball team opted not to travel to face their new Big Ten opponents UCLA and USC.

The Wildcats will be forfeiting those games, the Big Ten said Wednesday, resulting in one more win apiece for No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 USC.

The games were originally scheduled for Jan. 12 and 15. Northwestern announced it would not be traveling on Jan. 10, one day after the NFL announced it would move the Jan. 13 Rams–Vikings wild-card game to Arizona. The Lakers, Clippers, and Kings all postponed games.

Efforts were made to reschedule the games, a person close to the situation tells Front Office Sports, but with the postseason approaching, a fix wasn’t able to be made. In conference play, UCLA will improve to 15–1, USC is now 16–1, and Northwestern falls to 2–15.

“Northwestern Athletics accepts the decision by the Big Ten Conference to strictly apply the Conference bylaws as written, in issuing forfeits for missed competitions by Northwestern’s Women’s Basketball after the team’s decision not to travel to Los Angeles during the tragic wildfires in Southern California,” Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “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.”

While Northwestern decided not to travel, other Big Ten teams still went to L.A. to play during the wildfires. Penn State women’s basketball played USC on campus Jan. 12, then faced UCLA Jan. 15 in a game relocated to Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid. The Iowa men’s team also traveled for a Jan. 14 game at USC.

UCLA remained open during the wildfires, though its campus was much closer to the flames than USC’s. The Bruins women’s basketball team was returning from an away game when the fires broke out, and some donors traveling with them learned about the flames threatening their homes—which were eventually destroyed—on the team plane, coach Cori Close said.

Representatives for the Big Ten did not comment. UCLA and USC declined to comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.

NBA Season About to Tip Off With New TV Deal—but No LeBron..

James will reportedly be out until mid-November.

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Tortillas

Texas Tech-Kansas Tortilla-Knife Mess Ends With $50K in Fines

Texas Tech’s tortilla tradition got both teams in trouble.
Cody Campbell
October 15, 2025

Texas Tech Booster Cody Campbell Slams Conference PE Deals

Campbell said the concept goes against “all the laws of finance.”
Oct 14, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel.
October 15, 2025

SEC Coaches Sound Off on NIL, Revenue-Sharing: ‘Upside Down’

John Calipari doesn’t want to become “transactional.”
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) takes the ball on a kickoff return in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
October 14, 2025

USC, Michigan Officials Oppose Big Ten’s Private Capital Proposal 

Officials from both schools met virtually on Tuesday.
October 13, 2025

Penn State Could Owe James Franklin Very Little of Buyout

FOS has reviewed Franklin’s 2021 contract extension.
Patrick Kraft
October 13, 2025

Penn State Says Adidas Had No Role in James Franklin Firing or..

Franklin is owed tens of millions of dollars.
October 13, 2025

College Football Coach Firings Nearing $100M in Contract Buyouts

Two other coaches besides James Franklin were fired Sunday.