Nikki Blue

Biography

A veteran coach at collegiate and WNBA levels, Nikki Blue is joining Lindsay Gottlieb’s women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, Gottlieb announced on April 23, 2025. A Southern California native, Blue brings professional playing and coaching experience to her role with the Trojans. "I’m thrilled for our team and the Trojan Family to be able to add someone of Nikki Blue’s caliber to our coaching staff,” Gottlieb said. "We have elite players who want to eventually become pros, so we wanted to add someone who has pro experience and who is also committed to pouring into young people on and off the court. Nikki also brings elite X and O experience and a winning character. Her life and basketball experiences will add immensely to the culture we’ve built and the direction we want to continue to go.” Blue comes to USC from the Los Angeles Sparks, where she served as an assistant coach following time as interim head coach for the Phoenix Mercury in the final 28 games of the 2023 WNBA Season. Her professional coaching career began with the Mercury as an assistant coach in 2022 after spending 16 seasons at the Division I collegiate level. "I’m incredibly honored to join the USC women’s basketball program and I’m deeply grateful to Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb for the opportunity to be part of a culture built on trust, authenticity, and excellence,” Blue said. "I’ve always admired coach Gottlieb as a brilliant strategist and transformational leader whose impact goes beyond the gam