It’s been a rough year for NC State athletics. With disappointing seasons from both football and men’s basketball and baseball struggling early, most major sports have emphatically fallen short of expectations.
But one thing is for certain: Wolfpack fans can always count on head coach Wes Moore and No. 7 NC State women’s basketball.
Already earning a share of the ACC Regular Season Title, knocking off a No. 1 team and earning the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament, the fun is only just beginning for the Wolfpack.
But does it have what it takes to recreate last year’s postseason magic? Win the ACC Championship? Go to the National Championship? There is no better time than now for NC State to establish itself as a powerhouse in women’s college basketball.
When looking at NC State’s resume, a few things stand out. For one, the Wolfpack is an undefeated 16-0 at Reynolds Coliseum, a feat it shares with just four other teams in the Net Rankings Top 25. This is crucial for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Even if NC State loses in its first matchup of the ACC Tournament, it will most likely host the first two rounds of March Madness. When the red-and-white plays in front of its home crowd, it seems like no team can beat it.
The other thing that stands out is the Wolfpack’s five losses, all of which came away from home. Luckily for the Pack, the ACC Tournament is played in nearby Greensboro, North Carolina, meaning the Tobacco Road teams will have a slight leg up over the rest of their ACC foes in travel and fanbase.
However, this could be an issue in the NCAA Tournament. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight sites are Spokane, Washington and Birmingham, Alabama — nowhere near the City of Oaks. If it were to repeat its Final Four run, it’d be in Tampa, Florida, which is, once again, far away from Raleigh.
It’s worth noting that four of NC State’s five losses were to teams that currently sit in the Top 15 of the AP Poll. Critics could use this against the Wolfpack, saying that it can’t beat top competition when it matters most. But once again, the red-and-white proved doubters wrong with key wins against then-No. 10 Duke and then-No. 1 Notre Dame. The reason? Moore figured out his lineup.
Moore knew he had to find help in the portal after Mimi Collins and River Baldwin graduated in 2024. He brought in graduate forward Caitlin Weimar, an 18 points-per-game scorer from Boston University. However, Weimar got hurt before the season even started. Additionally, graduate center Lizzy Williamson went down with a season-ending injury. Without Weimar and Williamson, Moore was forced to rely on two freshmen — forward Tilda Trygger and center Lorena Awou. It seemed almost unfair for the two rookies, who were supposed to ride the bench and learn from their veteran counterparts. Instead, they got thrown into the fire as soon as the season started.
Awou barely got playing time early, while Trygger struggled in 22 minutes played against then-No. 1 South Carolina in just the second game of the season. NC State’s inexperienced frontcourt was a key reason the Wolfpack got off to a shaky 4-3 start. But as the season continued, they began to settle into their respective roles. Trygger learned to use her size in the post while also providing a threat from long range. Awou cleaned up her rookie mistakes to become a dominant scorer and rebounder in the paint.
But relying on freshmen as his post players wasn’t the only unorthodox approach that Moore took — he also has four guards in his starting lineup. Typically, teams have a center and two forwards to provide size, defense and rebounding. But in Moore’s lineup, senior guard Saniya Rivers plays the three position while graduate guard Madison Hayes plays the four. It all works because of them. At six feet tall, Hayes is extremely undersized for the four position. However, even with her smaller frame, Hayes makes up for it with effort. The veteran averages a team-leading seven rebounds per game and has recorded five double-doubles this season.
Rivers is simply an anomaly. Standing at 6-foot-1, her long frame makes her a defensive menace, averaging 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Furthermore, Rivers is also excellent on the glass, grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game. And as if all that wasn’t enough, Rivers is a playmaker, averaging nearly four assists per game and can be the primary ball handler whenever needed.
The out-of-position versatility that Hayes and Rivers provide allows senior guard Aziaha James and sophomore guard Zoe Brooks to shine as three-level scorers. James and Brooks have proven to be one of the best backcourt duos in the nation, averaging a combined 32.5 points per game. Both have shown the ability to take over a game when needed — James scored a career-high 36 points against Duke, while Brooks scored a career-high 33 against Notre Dame. Both have earned Player of the Week honors from multiple publications. With the postseason now here, this dynamic duo will be one to fear.
NC State will face either Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech in its first game of the tournament as it already advances to the quarterfinals because it’s the No. 1 team. Earlier in the season, the Wolfpack smothered the Hokies in a lopsided 85-57 victory in Raleigh while it downed then-No. 20 Georgia Tech 83-68 in Atlanta. No matter who it faces, NC State will be a heavy favorite.
If it makes it to the semifinals, the Wolfpack will likely face either UNC-Chapel Hill or Florida State — both intimidating opponents. It took a difficult two-point loss to UNC in Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heels are currently dealing with injuries that could affect their postseason outlook. Although NC State crushed the Seminoles by 23 points in Tallahassee, Florida State is still riding the momentum after defeating Notre Dame in South Bend — the only team to do so this season.
If NC State advances to the championship game, it will likely face either Notre Dame or Duke. It took double overtime to dethrone the Fighting Irish and a career day from James to defeat the Blue Devils in Raleigh. The Wolfpack isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, and it would like revenge against Notre Dame for its loss in last year’s ACC Championship, but head coach Niele Ivey is sure to have schemed for Moore’s offensive onslaught after its loss two weeks ago.
The Wolfpack has shown nothing but perseverance and determination this season as it’s marched into the postseason. If NC State can win the ACC Championship, it will likely be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time the Wolfpack has done so since 2022.
No matter the outcome, this has been a program-defining season for Moore and the Wolfpack as they stake their claim in women’s collegiate basketball. But with a deep postseason run, NC State can transcend greatness and become etched in history.
