Duke Women Lead ACC Preseason Basketball Poll; UNC Third and NC State Fifth

DURHAM — Duke enters the 2026-27 women's basketball season as the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason favorite, with North Carolina projected third and NC State fifth in voting released by the league on October 13. The results place all three Triangle programs among the conference's expected contenders as basketball season approaches.

The Blue Devils received 49 first-place votes and 1,649 points from a 76-member panel of ACC head coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel voters. Louisville ranked second with 1,580 points and 22 first-place votes. North Carolina collected 1,462 points and one first-place vote, while Notre Dame placed fourth with 1,450 points and four first-place votes. NC State rounded out the top five at 1,337 points.

Duke's selection follows an ACC championship and a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. The preseason poll reflects the program's recent success but is not a guarantee of another conference title. Louisville's substantial support and the strong projections for UNC, Notre Dame and NC State indicate that the race is expected to be competitive.

Junior Duke forward Toby Fournier earned a place on the preseason All-ACC team after receiving 767 points in individual voting. The Blue Devils also placed freshmen Autumn Fleary and Bella Flemings on the preseason All-Freshman Team. Those selections highlight the mix of established production and incoming talent expected to shape Duke's season.

NC State placed two players on the preseason All-ACC team: senior forward Khamil Pierre, who received 456 points, and senior guard Zoe Brooks, who received 455. North Carolina freshman guard Kate Harpring led the preseason All-Freshman voting with 493 points. The recognition provides early individual storylines for each school beyond its position in the team poll.

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo was voted the conference's Preseason Player of the Year. The league said Hidalgo set an ACC single-season scoring record with 909 points last season. Her individual honor underscores the difference between projecting a conference champion and selecting the league's top returning player.

The ACC season begins in early November. North Carolina is scheduled to face Oklahoma in Paris on November 2, while the broader conference slate will offer the head-to-head results that ultimately determine whether the preseason rankings were accurate. For Duke, UNC and NC State, the initial message is clear: the expectations are high, and their progress will be measured on the court rather than by the October ballot.