LOS ANGELES — A day after stunning news the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams’ playoff tilt with the Arizona Cardinals would be moved from SoFi Stadium to Arizona, the wildfires decimating Los Angeles caused another significant schedule shift in LA-area sports on Friday.
In a statement, the Big Ten announced that Northwestern women’s basketball had elected not to travel to Los Angeles this upcoming week, for games scheduled against No. 1 UCLA (16-0, 5-0 Big Ten) and No. 4 USC (15-1, 5-0 Big Ten). In a subsequent statement shared with the Southern California News Group, Northwestern clarified the decision to forgo travel was “due to concerns surrounding the ongoing wildfires affecting the greater Los Angeles area.”
The devastation across Southern California has been rampant, with the Palisades fire — ravaging an area roughly seven miles from UCLA’s campus — claiming over 21,000 acres. Five people have died in the Palisades fire, as of Friday evening.
“We’ve been on the road for, whatever it is now, five days, and our city is on fire, and it’s been hard to be away and watch those scenes,” USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after a 79-74 win at Maryland Wednesday night. “So, just want to send our thoughts and prayers to the first responders, to those impacted. I have friends that have been displaced, I know the players probably do, too. So that’s more important, obviously, than what we’re doing.”
The games won’t be canceled entirely, but likely rescheduled, as the Big Ten said it was “looking into all possible rescheduling options.”
It will tweak the schedules of the two local powers, both in the midst of massive win streaks and cementing themselves as two of the top programs in the country. UCLA was scheduled to play Northwestern on Sunday but now will regroup to host Penn State Jan. 15. USC, meanwhile, will now have seven days until its next matchup, playing Penn State at home Jan. 12 and then traveling to Indiana for a game Jan. 19.
“I am, just humbled — ugh, it’s sort of emotional,” UCLA women’s head coach Cori Close said Friday morning, shaking her head, on a Zoom availability with media. “Just, by the amazing sacrifice, the way this city is coming together to protect each other the best way we know how, and just deep gratitude for our first responders. And, just what’s happening in our city is just overwhelming.”
“But,” Close continued, “I am also so confident in this city’s resilience, its unity, its find-a-way mentality. And I just know Angelenos are going to find a way to come back stronger. But the hurt is real, and deep right now. And we just want to say thank you, to everybody that’s fighting to save structures, and more importantly, save lives.”