North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Women’s Basketball Picked No. 25 in AP Preseason Poll
10/20/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – The NC State women's basketball team ranks No. 25 in Associated Press Preseason Poll, as announced Tuesday. This marks the eighth time in the last nine seasons the Wolfpack will start the season ranked inside the top 25, all under Wes Moore.
NC State returns All-ACC Preseason Team selections in Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre. Brooks enters her fourth season with the Pack, coming off a year where she averaged career-highs with 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She joined Miah Spencer as the only Pack players this century to boast such a statline. Pierre made noise in her first season in Raleigh, leading the team with a double-double behind 16.7 points and 11.9 boards per game. She finished with the second most rebounds (381) and double-doubles (22) in a single season in school history.
The Wolfpack returns six of 10 from last season, including three starters. Qadence Samuels started in 28 of 32 games last season and Maddie Cox returns for her senior season, sporting the Wolfpack all four years of college, including in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Final Four run. Ky'She Lunan and Adelaide Jernigan look to make a jump from their rookie seasons, being two key guards for Moore's crew.
The Pack also welcomes six newcomers. NC State brought in another top 25 recruiting class with Kamora Pruitt (No. 40) and Annsley Trivette (No. 94), as well as international prospect Favour Ossai. Coach Moore also brought in three transfers, including All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection Desiree Wooten from Colorado, Auburn transfer Khady Leye and local product Audrey Ericksen, who spent the prior three seasons at Boston University.
NC State was projected to finish fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
The Pack will host UNCW on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum. Entry is free and open to the public.
