Explosive guards, expansion, national hype: 5 things to know about ACC women’s basketball

As women’s basketball’s popularity is soaring — with record-breaking viewership and attendance across the collegiate and professional level — the ACC can’t be overlooked.

“Women’s basketball has definitely improved over the course of the years,” Duke guard and preseason All-ACC pick Reigan Richardson said. “I feel like, for the ACC, we just want to continue to put women on the forefront… to be able to play on the big stage.”

The Triangle boasts three teams in the AP Preseason Top 25, with N.C. State at No. 9, Duke at No. 11 and North Carolina at No. 15. Combine this with growing revenue and a deeper investment in women’s hoops, and the Triangle will be at the forefront of a larger shift in the basketball landscape.

The ACC is full of exciting narratives this season. Whether it’s Notre Dame’s stacked roster, N.C. State’s returning players from its Final Four run or the integration of a three-time national championship program in Stanford, there are plenty of reasons for basketball fans to tune in.

Here are five things to know about ACC women’s basketball going into the 2024-2025 season:

Notre Dame is loaded: Fighting Irish will be a joy to watch

Notre Dame, the reigning ACC champion, enters the season as one of the deepest and most talented teams in the country. Coach Niele Ivey has an enviable problem on her hands: How will she manage her wealth of talent?

The Fighting Irish return a deep lineup. They’re led by Hannah Hidalgo, who took the nation by storm last season and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year, conference Rookie of the Year and First Team AP All-American nods. Hidalgo will team up with a now-healthy Olivia Miles, a former All-ACC first teamer and dynamic playmaker who was absent last season due to a knee injury.

“It’s going to be electric,” Ivey said. “I think everyone is going to be really excited to see those two play together… they’re the most dynamic point guards in our game: High tempo, fast tempo, fast-paced. We like to score. We like to get out and run.”

N.C. State coach Wes Moore sees Notre Dame’s depth as one of its biggest advantages. When asked about the Fighting Irish at the 2024 ACC Tipoff, he reflected on the Wolfpack’s loss to the team in last year’s ACC Tournament championship game.

“We should have done a better job with the players around Hidalgo,” Moore said. “We let [Sonia] Citron and [Maddy] Westbeld get hot and nail threes. So you can’t just focus on one player and get too caught up in it because they got a lot of great players around them that can make you pay.”

Expansion brings new powerhouse programs to ACC

The ACC expanded this season, adding Stanford, Cal and SMU — all programs that will inject new talent and storylines into the league.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Richardson said. “Duke loves competing and just being able to have great teams like Stanford, Cal and SMU join the conference, it will definitely help us improve.”

Stanford, easily the most dominant program historically, joins at a time of transition with a new head coach. Cal and SMU bring their own strengths, but the biggest challenge for all three will undoubtedly be adjusting to far-flung travel and the grind of ACC play.

As a result of the three new schools, schedules across the league are being adjusted. For example, North Carolina only plays N.C. State and Virginia Tech once each, instead of the traditional home-and-home pair of games per season.

UNC coach Courtney Banghart believes this will lead to a more balanced schedule.

“I like the idea of playing everybody one time, with our rival [Duke] twice,” Banghart said. “I think that will [produce] a better true champion in our league.”

Moore echoed this sentiment.

“Yeah, I’m not hating it, that’s for sure,” he said. “You know, when we had to play the Tobacco Road friends over there twice, and then Virginia and Virginia Tech, it’s been tough. And you’re right, now I think you get more of a true balance schedule, and so I’m always for that.”

N.C. State looks to build on Final Four success

After its Final Four run last season, N.C. State returns with a mix of experience and uncertainty.

The Wolfpack’s guard play — led by preseason All-ACC picks Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers — will be their strength, but key losses in the frontcourt leave questions for Moore. He admitted at the 2024 ACC Tipoff that replacing post players like River Baldwin and Mimi Collins won’t be easy.

“I have no clue [who will step up],” Moore said, half-jokingly. “Pray for us. I mean, it’s tough. Everybody overlooks [Baldwin and Collins], but they were really good. So big shoes to fill, and I don’t have an answer at this point.”

Despite the uncertainty up front, the Wolfpack’s experienced guards are prepared to take on larger roles.

“Last year I played a lot of point guard,” Rivers said. “This year moving around, maybe playing three, four, five, I definitely have to switch my mentality. I think physically I’m there. You mentioned me being very long. I think that’s a big factor, and I’m excited to play different positions this year because I do take pride in my defense.”

Moore’s focus this season will likely be on developing younger players in the frontcourt while relying on his veteran backcourt to keep the Wolfpack in the national conversation. The team’s ability to blend new talent with experienced leadership will determine if N.C. State can repeat last year’s success.

Riding the wave of women’s hoops national hype

The spotlight on women’s basketball has never been brighter, thanks in part to college stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have raised the profile of the sport.

This season, the ACC (and NCAA as a whole) will look to capitalize on this momentum with increased media coverage and investment in women’s basketball.

“I think it’s great,” Moore said. “You know, these young ladies have been working so hard for so long, and I think now they’re finally getting the accolades and the attention they deserve.”

The NCAA took a significant step toward financially rewarding women’s basketball programs for March Madness success this August, with the Division I Board of Directors unanimously approving a proposal to introduce “performance units” similar to those used in the men’s tournament. This proposal would begin with the 2025 women’s tournament, distributing funds based on how far teams advance.

Duke coach Kara Lawson applauded the move and emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the momentum the sport has gained over the past few years.

“I think it can be one of the fastest-growing sports — not just from a television ratings standpoint but from attendance,” Lawson said. “It just needs continued investment. The way I look at units is like reinvestment back into the game and hopefully there’s many other things on the horizon for the sport.”

Guard play will be something special

The conference will feature 14 returning All-ACC players, the large majority of whom are guards. Standouts (outside of those previously mentioned) include Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, Virginia’s Kymora Johnson and the ever-versatile Alyssa Ustby at North Carolina.

As Moore joked, it seems like everyone in the conference has a great guard. And with so many teams heavily relying on dynamic guard play, the ACC should deliver some of the most thrilling, fast-paced and high-scoring basketball in the country.

“I think that’s what makes ACC one of the great women’s basketball [conferences] in the country is the talent, especially at guards,” Moore said. “I mean, there’s so many really good guards in our league. And it’s fun, you know, as a fan, it’s got to be fun to come out and see those people play and especially going head-to-head against each other.”

In a sport increasingly defined by perimeter play, guard-heavy teams tend to have an advantage in the postseason. Programs with strong backcourts are often the ones making deep tournament runs, and this year’s ACC squads are no exception.

This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Explosive guards, expansion, national hype: 5 things to know about ACC women’s basketball."