In each of the last seven seasons, the ACC has sent at least eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. No other conference can make the same claim.
With eight All-Conference players returning from last year and a strong recruiting class, fans are expecting to see the ACC women to extend that streak to eight seasons.
Here’s a season preview and rankings for the ACC 2025-26 women’s basketball season:
1. DUKE
Duke welcomes back four starters from a squad that won the ACC Tournament and went to the Elite Eight last season. Throw in last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year Toby Fournier, who is expected to move into a starting role, and that makes the Blue Devils the overwhelming fan favorite to win the conference. Duke also added top recruit Emilee Skinner, who gives Duke a strong chance of having its second straight ACC Rookie of the Year award. Arianna Roberson, who redshirted last year, also is expected to figure into the Duke rotation.
2. NC STATE
The eligibility clock ran out on Lizzy Williamson, Aziaha James, Saniya Rivers and Aziah James, who were key members of last year’s team. But the Wolfpack still is loaded with talent. Zoe Brooks (14.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last year) is the top returner and guard Zamareya Jones also returns. But the biggest reason for the fan buzz in Raleigh is the addition of Vanderbilt transfer forward Khamil Pierre, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds for Vanderbilt last season. Freshman Adelaide Jernigan and Ky’She Lunan are expected to get lots of playing time.
3. LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals lost a lot to graduation and the transfer portal. But coach Jeff Walz quickly reloaded his roster by using the transfer portal. That group is headed by guard Skylar Jones, who averaged 10.2 points for Arizona last year and Laura Ziegler, who averaged 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds for St. Josephs. Guard Reyna Scott, a transfer from Oklahoma also is likely to get key minutes.
4. NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heels had perhaps the ACC’s most productive off season. They’ll welcome an outstanding recruiting class led by Nyla Brooks, Taissa Queiroz and Taliyah Henderson and transfers Nyla Harris (Louisville) and Elina Aarnisalo (UCLA). That group will join returners Ciera Toomey, Reniya Kelly, Lanie Grant and Indya Nivar to give North Carolina a team that’s capable of challenging for the ACC championship.
5. VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers have one of the strongest groups of returners in the ACC and that’s why fans view them as a team on the rise. Guard Kymora Johnson, an All-American Honorable Mention last season, leads the way. Paris Clark and Olivia McGhee also return. And the Cavaliers got better in the offseason by adding transfers Sa’Myah Smith (LSU), Tabitha Amanze (Princeton) and Caitlin Weimar (NC State).
6. NOTRE DAME
The Fighting Irish lost a lot from last season’s Sweet 16 squad, but they still should finish in the top half of the ACC. That’s largely because Notre Dame returns junior guard Hannah Hidalgo, one of the top guards in the country. Her supporting cast will be largely made up of transfers, including Iyana Moore (Vanderbilt) and Malaya Cowles (Wake Forest).
7. STANFORD
For the first time since 1987, Stanford wasn’t in the NCAA Tournament last season. Second-year coach Kate Paye hopes to get the Cardinals back in the dance this season. That’s a good possibility because the Cardinal returns key players in Nunu Agara and Chloe Clardy. Standford also landed a top recruiting class that includes Alex Eschmeyer, Carly Ambron, Hailee Swain, Lara Somfai and Nora Ezike.
8. MIAMI
The Hurricanes look like a team on the rise as coach Tricia Cullop enters her second year in Coral Gables after bringing in a stellar recruiting class and several top transfers to go with returning guard Ahnay Adams. She’s likely to be joined in the backcourt by Quinnipiac transfer Gal Raviv, who averaged 17.9 points a game last season. Up front, Florida transfer Ra Shaya Kyle and SMU transfer Jessica Peterson will step right into key roles. Versatile freshman Danielle Osho could get big minutes while splitting time on the wing and inside.
9. FLORIDA STATE
Coach Brooke Wyckoff’s Seminoles will look a lot different than last season with a slew of transfers and a prized recruit stepping into key roles. The offense will be led by Texas A&M transfer Sole Williams and Notre Dame transfer Emma Risch. Boston College transfer Tatum Greene and Allie Kubek (Marland) also will play key roles. The player Wyckoff and Seminoles fans are most excited about is freshman guard Marci Gerton, who is expected to step into the starting lineup right away.
10. CLEMSON
The Tigers should be much improved in coach Shawn Poppie’s second season Raven Thompson, Hannah Kohn and Mia Moore are key returners. Holland Harris, Amaia Jackson and Ja’Kerra Butler give Clemson a strong freshmen class and transfers Taylor Johnson-Matthews (DePaul), Demeara Hinds (Wake Forest) and Rusne Augustinaite (Georgia Tech) should factor into the rotation.
11. VIRGINIA TECH
The Hokies return a double-digit scorers in guard Carleigh Wenzl and forward Carys Baker. The frontcourt should be strong with the arrival of freshmen Amani Jenkins and Aniya Trent, who will be joined by Texas Tech transfer Kilah Freelon.
12. SMU
The Mustangs will have 15 players that are new to the school and a new coach in Aida Barnes. The SMU rotation will be highlighted by a bunch of transfers — Jzaniya Harriel (Stanford), Kyla Deck (Arizona), Grace Hall (Penn State) and Ayanna Thompson (Ole Miss). Freshman Elizaveta, a strong three-point shooter, also will get playing time.
13. CALIFORNIA
LuLu Twindale (13.2 points per game last year) is the only returning starter from a team that went 25-9. The Beas have brought in an outstanding freshman class that includes guard Aliyahna Morris and forward Taylor Barnes. Combo guard Mircale Sheppard, who spent last season at LSU, is the top transfer.
14. SYRACUSE
Sophie Burrows, who averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 assists last season, is the lone returning starter from a team that went 12-18 last season. But the Orange should be bolstered by the addition of transfers Laila Phelia (Texas Tech and Michigan), Dominique Darius (USC) and Aurora Almon (Miami.
15. GEORGIA TECH
Junior guard La’Nya Foster, who played at Austin Peay last season and Jada Crashaw (Long Beach State) highlight a long list of transfers and will get immediate playing time. The Yellow Jackets are hoping for a big step forward by 6-foot-6 center Ariadna Temis, who averaged four points and 3.6 rebounds as a sophomore last season.
16. PITTSBURGH
Forward Mikayla Johnson returns after averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. She’ll be joined by guard Amiya Jenkins, and forward Lauren Rust, who each appeared in only three games before redshirting last season.
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