ACC women’s basketball preseason poll and all-conference teams announced

Hours after the N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina women’s basketball programs were announced as Associated Press Preseason Top-15 teams, these three Triangle squads are taking home even more preseason accolades.

The ACC rolled out its preseason superlatives on ACC Network Tuesday night, with Notre Dame topping the poll with 70 first-place votes. The Fighting Irish return All-American and preseason ACC Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo. They’ll also have the goggled phenom Olivia Miles back from injury.

Here are the takeaways for the Triangle-area women’s basketball teams:

N.C. State picked second

N.C. State — who return starting guards Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James (both picked to the preseason All-ACC team) — was selected to finish second.

The Wolfpack, coming off a Final Four run, received eight out of 79 first-place votes. Rivers received two of 78 possible votes for preseason ACC Player of the Year and James received one.

In addition to its starting guards, the Wolfpack return Zoe Brooks — second in voting for ACC Sixth Player of the Year last season. The team is also adding five-star recruit Zamareya Jones (named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List) and four-star prospect Devyn Quigley.

But, crucially, N.C. State’s frontcourt is a huge question mark ahead of the season.

“I have no clue,” Wolfpack coach Wes Moore said at ACC Tipoff last week when asked who he expected to step up in the post. “Pray for us.”

“Again, it’s just tough,” he continued. “Everybody overlooks them [River Baldwin and Mimi Collins], but they were really good. Big shoes to fill and I don’t have an answer at this point.”

Duke picked third

Duke was selected to finish third and Reigan Richardson was named to the preseason All-ACC team. The Blue Devils are bringing back most of their roster from last year’s Sweet 16 appearance and are adding two talented freshmen in forward Toby Fournier and center Arianna Roberson. Fournier — you can check out her dunking highlights here — was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List.

Duke women’s basketball, under coach Kara Lawson, is entering the season with continuity and a deep sense of “sisterhood.”

“We have a lot of returners,” Lawson said at ACC Tipoff last week. “Certainly in this environment of college basketball, it’s rare. I think it speaks more to our players, their commitment to each other and their excitement to have an opportunity to compete again in this league and hopefully in the postseason, as well.”

With no offseason transfers and several returning veterans, the Blue Devils are looking to build on last year’s 22-12 finish.

“We’re still learning each other right now,” Lawson said. “I can’t say how similar or different the teams will ultimately be, but I know we’re working hard.”

North Carolina picked sixth

North Carolina was selected to finish sixth in the conference. The Tar Heels are led by graduate students Alyssa Ustby (picked to the preseason All-ACC team), Lexi Donarski and senior Maria Gakdeng, along with their No. 15-ranked recruiting class.

UNC, out of the Triangle schools, has the most experience in the post. That’s thanks to former Boston College Eagle Gakdeng, Ustby’s length and newcomers Ciera Toomey (returning from her redshirt freshman year) and Blanca Thomas.

Banghart praised the team’s depth at every position at ACC Tipoff last week.

“Not only are we more skilled and deeper, but we can shoot it better and the ball moves more,” Banghart said. “We have more talent.”

Ustby, a second-team selectee last season, is focusing on expanding her offensive skills as the team prepares for the upcoming season without former star guard Deja Kelly.

“Being able to comfortably shoot the three and make shots at the three — that’s been a big part of my game,” Ustby said at ACC Tipoff last week. “And I have also learned a lot of different moves and picked up a lot of things from my teammates because we have a really talented group.”

Preseason ACC women’s basketball poll

First place votes in parenthesis

Preseason ACC player of the year

Hannah Hidalgo, So., G, Notre Dame

Preseason ACC Newcomer watch list

Toby Fournier, Fr., F, Duke

Imari Berry, Fr., G, Louisville

Kate Koval, Fr., F, Notre Dame

Zamareya Jones, Fr., G, NC State

Liza Karlen, Gr., F, Notre Dame

Preseason All-ACC Team

Hannah Hidalgo So., G, Notre Dame 921 (62 first-place votes)

Ta’Niya Latson, Jr., G, Florida State 734 (9 first-place votes)

Saniya Rivers, Sr., G, NC State 527 (2 first-place votes)

Aziaha James, Sr., G, NC State 473 (1 first-place vote)

Olivia Miles, Jr., G, Notre Dame 457 (4 first-place votes)

Sonia Citron, Jr., G, Notre Dame 331

Makayla Timpson, Sr., F, Florida State 315

Alyssa Ustby, Gr., G/F, North Carolina 308

Reigan Richardson, Sr., G, Duke 202

Kymora Johnson, So., G, Virginia 193 (1 first-place vote)