October 21, 2025
2025-26 ACC preview
After losing 70% of all-conference performers from last season, ACC teams are looking for fresh starts all around
For the teams of the Atlantic Coast Conference, it’s a season of fresh starts.
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The league that lost 70% of its All-Conference team from just seven months ago is going to need to rebuild collectively, which will keep things intriguing as the 2025-26 season gets underway.
“There’s so much parity in this league,” Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said. “The makeup of every team is different now also, so it’s going to be really interesting to see that.”
The ACC’s youth movement should be an impressive one. The league has 27 recruits ranked in ESPN’s top 100, second to the SEC’s 28.
North Carolina State coach Wes Moore called the ACC lineup of programs “unbelievable.”
“It’s so strong,” Moore said. “Eighteen great programs … you’d better find out early what your weaknesses are and what you need to fix.”
Who will compete for a title?
Duke – One of the teams with the least amount of remodeling to do and the biggest expectations, the Blue Devils return four starters from the team that reached the Elite Eight a season ago. And they have been picked to win the conference title.
The core group includes seniors Ashlon Jackson, Taina Mair, juniors Delaney Thomas and Jaydn Donovan, and sophomore star Toby Fournier. Adding freshman Emilee Skinner to the mix – the highest-ranked player among the ACC freshman class – bodes well for Lawson’s squad. Skinner has an international resume and will look to score, a big plus for a team that will still build its foundations on stifling defense.
For three straight seasons, Duke has improved its NCAA finish – second round in 2023, Sweet 16 in 2024 and the Elite Eight in 2025. What comes next?
The Blue Devils’ nonconference schedule includes: Baylor, West Virginia, USF, South Carolina, Texas or UCLA, and LSU.
North Carolina State – The defending regular-season champions have gone to the Sweet 16 in six consecutive seasons and reached the Final Four in 2024, but enter this campaign with no seniors on the roster.
“The great teams we’ve had have had great senior leadership,” said Moore. “We are depending on some younger players to provide that leadership.”
That group will include guards Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones, who demonstrated in last spring’s NCAA Tournament that they are ready for more. The Wolfpack will be big inside with a pair of youngsters, including 6’6 sophomore Tilda Trygger from Sweden, who started 23 games last season, and 6’5 freshman Lorena Awou.
Moore is going to test this group early. The Wolfpack will test their mettle with one of the toughest nonconference schedules, including Tennessee, USC and TCU in the first 12 days of the season.
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North Carolina – Courtney Banghart is in her seventh season as the Tar Heels’ coach, and a big NCAA breakthrough is still on the to-do list with two trips to the Sweet 16 in the last four years.
Despite returning eight players, UNC has lost 60% of its scoring from last season. The Tar Heels add six new players – including a pair of key acquisitions from the transfer portal – which means a lot of integrating and a lot of teaching to do. The priority will be making sure that the post-game is shored up with Ciera Toomey and Blanca Thomas.
Senior guard Reniya Kelly is the heart-and-soul player on this roster, while transfers Nyla Harris from Louisville and Elina Aarnisalo from UCLA should be able to pitch in quickly.
Louisville – A team that had eight freshmen on the roster a season ago is more experienced, more seasoned and more prepared to compete with the league’s best teams. The Cardinals returned seven of those freshmen to the roster – a practically miraculous feat in the age of the transfer portal. Among them is sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts, who was a constant last season, starting every game and averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
A still-young team will be bolstered by three key transfers – Skylar Jones from Arizona, Reyna Scott from Oklahoma and Laura Ziegler of Saint Joseph’s (who averaged a double-double last season) – and six newcomers overall.
Louisville’s nonconference schedule will include matchups against Connecticut in the season opener in Germany, Tennessee and South Carolina.
Who will compete for an NCAA bid?
Notre Dame – The Irish have a lot of work to do to get back among the ranks of national championship contenders with just five returners on a 12-player roster. But it doesn’t hurt to start with one of the best players in the nation in junior guard Hannah Hidalgo.
Niele Ivey’s team had some big losses from last season with Olivia Miles and Kate Koval hitting the portal, and a pair of graduates in Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld.
The Irish have added two transfers in the post – Iyanna Moore from Vanderbilt, Malaya Cowles from Wake Forest and Gisela Sanchez from Kansas State.
Stanford – After missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 38 years, the Cardinal – in Kate Paye’s second season – are looking to make a quick comeback into the bracket behind 10 returners, finally healthy veteran forward Nunu Agara, guard Talana Lepolo, and the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation.
For the first time in six years, the Cardinal lost no players to the transfer portal. Nor did they bring anyone in.
The addition of five-star recruits, Hailee Swain, Lara Somfai and Alex Eschmeyer brings optimism that Stanford can go back to being Stanford.
“We have championship aspirations, championship goals,” Paye said.
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Cal – The Bears, who made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, finished a surprising seventh a season ago, and are picked to finish 12th – so that means exceeding expectations again for Charmin Smith’s team.
Cal’s 25-9 record last season was their best since 2012-13, when they made the Final Four. The only returning starter from last year’s team is junior guard Lulu Twidale, who averaged 13.2 points and is one of the nation’s best returning 3-point shooters. She will be flanked by freshman guard Aliyahna “Puff” Morris, a McDonald’s All-American from Southern California.
The addition of two players with NCAA experience, South Carolina graduate center Sakima Walker, a 6’5 post player, and LSU junior guard Mjracle Sheppard should help the Bears gel more quickly.
Virginia – The Cavs are a program embarking on an upward trajectory, head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton improving her record in each of her three seasons, including a 17-15 mark in 2024-25. The breakthrough would be a first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2018. Virginia returns five players and adds seven from the transfer portal.
Sophomore guard Kymora Johnson, the ACC’s assist leader last season, is one of the four all-conference returners in all of the ACC.
“It’s been a steady climb,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “I think it’s time to break through, kind of, and our biggest goal right now is just dancing in March. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Clemson – Second-year coach Shawn Poppie is looking for a big jump in his team’s ability to compete in the ACC and make an NCAA Tournament run with a fast-paced style and an offense focused on the 3-point shot. Last season, the Tigers set the school record with 228 made 3-pointers.
“I’d be shocked if that record stays,” Poppie said at ACC media day.
Clemson has bolstered its postgame with Demeara Hines, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest, who averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds a game last season. Sophomore guard Mia Moore is the leading returning scorer at 10.3 points a game. Junior guard Hannah Kohn hit 79 3-pointers last season.
The Tigers have big ambitions to change the trajectory of the program. Clemson has made the Tournament just once in the past 21 years.
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Florida State – The Seminoles return three starters from last year’s team, senior guard Sydney Bowles (who averaged 10.6 points a game and made 69 3-pointers), senior guard Amaya Bonner, and junior forward Avery Treadwell. The loss of NCAA leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson to South Carolina was an undeniable blow. Seven newcomers, including five transfers, will mean big early adjustments for Brooke Wycoff’s team. The most impactful transfer will likely be 6’2 forward Allie Kubek from Maryland. Kubek averaged 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a game during the Terps’ NCAA Tournament run last spring.
Miami – Tricia Cullop is in her second season with the Hurricanes and the combination of seven transfers and the No. 10 recruiting class in the country makes Miami one of the more compelling teams to watch in this conference race.
“Number one, we’re bigger, faster, and stronger, which is music to my ears because this league is that,” Cullop said. “Secondly, we can play fast offensively, and we can play aggressive defensively. We have the depth to sustain the level of play that we want to.”
On paper, 6’6 Ra Shaya Kyle, a graduate transfer from Florida, looks like an impact player. Kyle had 16 double-doubles last season. Israeli guard Gal Raviv, last year’s MAC Player of the Year at Quinnipiac, will also have an impact. Raviv averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a freshman last season.
Virginia Tech – Megan Duffy returns for her second season at the helm after posting a 19-13 record last season, including nine conference wins, and a berth in the WBIT. This team will have six returners and seven newcomers and hopes that behind veteran guards Carleigh Wenzel and Carys Baker, who combined to average 26.6 points last season, they can put themselves in NCAA position in a deep league.
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Who will get left out
Syracuse – 12-18 last season, the Orange are returning all seven players who could return from last season.
SMU – Adia Barnes takes over the program, hoping to do the same renovation that she did at her alma mater, Arizona, leading the Wildcats to the national championship game in 2021.
Georgia Tech – Karen Blair assumes the helm, the former Maryland assistant taking the reins from Nell Fortner with 10 new players on the roster, including eight transfers.
Pitt – Seven freshmen and three transfers mean a makeover for the Panthers.
Boston College – Eleven new players, including six transfers, will challenge coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee.
Wake Forest – Another team with a lot of roster turnover, the Demon Deacons take on just one Power Four opponent in the nonconference.
Superlatives
Biggest additions
- Louisville’s Laura Zieger from Saint Joseph’s
- North Carolina State’s Khamil Pierre from Vanderbilt
- Syracuse’s Laila Phelia from Michigan/Texas (DNP last season)
- Notre Dame’s Iyanna Moore from Vanderbilt
- Florida State’s Allie Kubek from Maryland
- Clemson’s Rusne Augustinaite from Georgia Tech
Biggest subtractions
- Olivia Miles from Notre Dame to TCU
- Ta’Niya Latson from Florida State to South Carolina
- Marta Suarez from Cal to TCU
Best freshman
Hailee Swain, Stanford. The 5’11 guard and No. 8 overall rated player in the class will play major minutes early for the Cardinal.
Best sophomore
Toby Fournier, Duke, the ACC’s Rookie of the Year last season, was one of just two freshmen nationally to lead an AP top-15 team in scoring.
Best junior
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame. The speedy guard has averaged 23.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.2 steals over her first two seasons.
Best senior
Reniya Kelly, UNC. Kelly averaged 11.4 points a game in conference play and shot 41.2% from beyond the arc to drive the Tar Heels’ offense.
Written by Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith has covered women’s basketball nationally for more than three decades. A 2024 inductee into the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Hall of Fame, Smith has worked for ESPN.com, The Athletic, the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as Pac-12.com and WNBA.com. She is the 2017 recipient of the Jake Wade Media Award from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) and was named the Mel Greenberg Media Award winner by the WBCA in 2019.
