Getting to Know Rian Forestier: More Than Basketball

I’ve been wanting to sit down with Rian Forestier for a while now.

Not just because of what she brings to the court for USC Women’s Basketball — but because there’s clearly more to her story than what fans see during games.

In our latest episode of Let’s Talk USC Women’s Basketball, we had the chance to go beyond the box score and really get to know who Rian is — as an athlete, as a competitor, and as someone making an impact off the court.

We talked about her journey as a multi-sport athlete, how running track shaped her mental toughness, and even how training in boxing helped develop parts of her game that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.

But what stood out the most was her purpose.

Rian shared the story behind her nonprofit, 4WARD — an initiative she started in high school to help provide shoes and support for young athletes. It’s something that’s bigger than basketball, and it speaks to the kind of leadership this program continues to build under Lindsay Gottlieb.

We also touched on what’s ahead — the NCAA Tournament, the mindset of the team heading into March Madness, and what it’s like going into her second tournament experience with a different level of confidence and understanding.

And of course… we had some fun with it too.

From “This or That” questions to TikTok trends, this episode gives you a look at Rian that you don’t always get to see.

If you want to understand the people behind the jerseys — this is one you don’t want to miss.

👉 Watch the full episode below