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ACC Women’s Basketball Reaches 58 Nonconference Wins With UConn at Louisville Ahead

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Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) in a defensive stance on the court at North Carolina, with teammate Olivia Miles (5) beside her

ACC women’s basketball owns the best opening week in the country at 58 nonconference wins, and the weekend brings its biggest test yet: No. 4 UConn at No. 7 Louisville on Sunday, with Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo leading the nation in scoring.

Upcoming Schedule (All Times ET)

Friday, November 13

Stanford at Santa Clara | 10 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, November 14

Providence at Boston College | Noon | ACCNX
Charleston Southern at Pitt | Noon | ACCNX
#13 Notre Dame vs. DePaul | 1 p.m. | NBC/Peacock
SoFi Shamrock Classic – White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
California at UCSB | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
#23 North Carolina at Penn | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

Sunday, November 15

NC State at Seton Hall | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgia State at Georgia Tech | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
La Salle at Virginia Tech | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
Virginia at Old Dominion | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Elon at Wake Forest | 3 p.m. | ACCNX
Marshall at #5 Duke | 3 p.m. | ACCN
Gonzaga at Stanford | 5 p.m. | ACCNX
Stetson at Clemson | 5 p.m. | ACCN
#4 UConn at #7 Louisville | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Nicholls at SMU | 7 p.m. | ACCNX
Canisius at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ACCN

ACC Quick Hits

ACC teams have compiled 58 non-conference victories through the opening week, the most among all conferences.

Notre Dame senior guard Hannah Hidalgo has been named the ACC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Notre Dame guard/forward Jacy Abii earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors for games played during the opening week of the regular season.

The Player of the Week honor is Hannah Hidalgo’s 15th of her career, the second-most in conference history, surpassing former Virginia Tech standout Elizabeth Kitley.

A total of 43 victories by ACC teams have been by 20 points or more, the second-most among all conferences.

Pitt scored a program-record 129 points in its win over Delaware State on Tuesday. Its the third-most points scored by an ACC team in conference history and the most since NC State scored a conference-record 137 points in 1990.

Notre Dame and Pitt rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, as the Fighting Irish rank second at 111.0 points per game and the Panthers rank sixth at 100.7 points per game.

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo leads the nation in scoring at 27.3 points per game, while Pitt’s Taryn Barbot ranks fifth at 25.3 points per game.

Pitt’s Taryn Barbot is the third player this century to begin her ACC career with three straight 20-point games, joining Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo (2023-24) and Georgia Tech’s Kaela Davis (2013-14). Among Division I transfers (played at least one game for another Division I team last season), Barbot’s 25.3 scoring average ranks second (Florida’s Kiyomi McMiller – 25.8). (STATS Perform)

Louisville has won each of its first five games by at least 20 points. The only ACC teams this century with a longer streak to begin a season are 2006-07 Duke (nine straight), 2006-07 North Carolina (seven), 2010-11 North Carolina (seven) and 2017-18 Florida State (six). (STATS Perform)

Duke held Norfolk State to 23 points on Thursday night, tied for the fourth fewest allowed by any ACC team in a game this century. It was the fewest allowed since Virginia also held Norfolk State to 23 points on December 28, 2012. (STATS Perform)

ACC Teams in the Top 25

Four ACC teams are in the latest Associated Press (AP) Top 25: No. 5 Duke, No. 7 Louisville, No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 23 North Carolina. NC State and Virginia are receiving votes. The same teams are in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll: No. 5 Duke, No. 7 Louisville, No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 23 North Carolina.

Preseason Outlook

Duke was picked first in the annual ACC Predicted Order of Finish, receiving 49 of 76 first-place votes. Louisville finished second with 22 first-place votes, while North Carolina (one first-place vote) and Notre Dame (four) landed third and fourth, respectively.

Eight All-ACC First Team selections from a season ago, as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel and coaches, were named to the 10-member Preseason All-ACC Team.

Among each Division I conference’s top 15 scorers from 2025-26 (minimum 15 games played for rankings), no conference has a higher percentage returning to the same team than the ACC (73.3%, 11 of 15). Of the four who did not return, two transferred within the ACC. (STATS Perform)

ACC teams are scheduled to play 65 games against teams from the Power 4 and BIG EAST, with the potential for additional games through MTEs. A total of 31 games are slated against SEC teams, including the annual SEC/ACC Challenge. The 65 games are tied with the SEC for the most among all leagues.

ACC teams are scheduled to play 16 nonconference games against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Preseason Poll, four more than any other conference. When considering the entire top 25, the ACC’s 30 scheduled nonconference games rank second behind the SEC (32).

ACC teams are scheduled to play 56 nonconference games against teams that were in last year’s NCAA Tournament field, the second most of any Division I conference behind the SEC (62).

Preseason Honors

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year and named an AP Preseason All-American.

Preseason Naismith Watch Lists:

Naismith Trophy Watch List: Imari Berry (Louisville), Zoe Brooks (NC State), Toby Fournier (Duke), Kate Harpring (North Carolina), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Uche Izoje (Syracuse), Kymora Johnson (Virginia), Khamil Pierre (NC State), Tajianna Roberts (Louisville), Lulu Twidale (California), Talayah Walker (Georgia Tech)

Wade Trophy Watch List: Toby Fournier (Duke), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Kymora Johnson (Virginia)

Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List (Top PG): Zamareya Jones (Louisville), Gal Raviv (Miami), Zoe Brooks (NC State), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and Kymora Johnson (Virginia)

Ann Meyers Award Watch List (Top SG): Lulu Twidale (California), Riley Nelson (Duke), Tajianna Roberts (Louisville) and Taryn Barbot (Pitt)

Cheryl Miller Award Watch List (Top SF): Jadyn Donovan (Duke), Mackenly Randolph (Louisville) and Achol Akot (North Carolina)

Katrina McClain Award Watch List (Top PF): Grace Oliver (Boston College), Toby Fournier (Duke), Carys Baker (Louisville) and Khamil Pierre (NC State)

Lisa Leslie Award Watch List (Top C): Arianna Roberson (Duke), Amiya Joyner (Louisville), Ciera Toomey (North Carolina) and Uche Izoje (Syracuse)

ACC and the NCAA Tournament

The ACC had a conference-record nine teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, breaking its previous record of eight teams, which had been set nine times since 2014.

Clemson, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech earned bids.

Since 2018, the ACC has earned 65 bids to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the most of any conference.

The ACC sent five teams to the Sweet 16 in 2026, the second-most of any conference and tied for the league record set in 2015.

At least one ACC team has advanced to the Elite Eight in each of the past 24 NCAA Tournaments, with Duke and Notre Dame earning berths last season. It is the longest active streak of any conference; the next-longest is 17.

Last season marked the third time in the past five years that the ACC had multiple teams reach the Elite Eight (2023, 2022), tied for the second most of any Division I conference in that span behind the SEC (four).

After entering the NCAA Tournament with four wins against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, ACC teams earned six wins over ranked opponents during the tournament.

ACC member institutions have won three NCAA championships and made 24 trips to the Final Four. Nine different institutions have represented the ACC in the Women’s Final Four, while 10 current ACC members have earned a spot in the national semifinals.

ACC & the WNBA

Four former ACC standouts were selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13. Duke’s Taina Mair was selected in the first round by Seattle, while Notre Dame’s Cassandre Prosper (Washington), Duke’s Ashlon Jackson (Golden State) and North Carolina’s Indya Nivar (Atlanta) were selected in the second round.

A total of 38 players from current ACC teams were on WNBA Opening Day rosters, while 23 alums earned a spot in the WNBA Playoffs.

Six standouts from ACC schools were named to the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, the most among all conferences.

On The Sidelines

Three new head coaches are on ACC sidelines this year: Kate Popovec-Goss (Boston College), Robin Harmony (Pitt) and Aaron Roussell (Virginia).

Current ACC schools have earned 12 WBCA Coach of the Year awards since 1989. Six of the 10 WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year awards have gone to current ACC schools.

NC State head coach Wes Moore ranks second among active Division I coaches with 883 career wins. The next closest ACC coaches are Louisville’s Jeff Walz (520) and Miami’s Tricia Cullop (512).

Duke head coach Kara Lawson led the USA Basketball Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in September. Lawson and former ACC standouts Sonia Citron (Notre Dame), Chelsea Gray (Duke) and Jackie Young (Notre Dame) finished a perfect 7-0 in the competition.

ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament

The 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament moved to Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, marking the first time the tournament was played at a neutral site outside of the Carolinas.

Duke won the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament for its second straight ACC title. The Blue Devils are the first team to repeat as ACC champions since NC State won three straight championships from 2020-22.

After defeating Louisville in the first overtime championship game since 2009, Duke claimed its 10th all-time title, tying Maryland for the most in ACC history.

Duke senior guard Taina Mair was named Tournament MVP.

Duke became the first team to win both the outright regular-season and tournament titles since NC State swept both titles in 2022.

The 50th edition of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first time since 1999. It will be the first time the event will be played inside an NBA arena, as it heads to Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets.

The ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament is the longest-running Division I women’s conference basketball tournament in the country.

SEC/ACC Challenge Returns for Fourth Season

The women’s side of the SEC/ACC Challenge will begin on Wednesday, December 2, and conclude on Thursday, December 3. Games will air across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and ACC Network and stream on the ESPN App.

ACC Network

ACC Network will highlight more than 70 women’s basketball games during the 2026-27 season, beginning on Nov. 4. The ACC Network action tips off with Campbell at No. 25 NC State at 6 p.m., followed by Stetson at No. 7 Louisville at 8 p.m. ACC Network Extra will stream more than 180 additional games throughout the season. ACCN will also offer extensive studio coverage of ACC women’s basketball through its daily flagship studio show, ACC PM; the ACC Network Basketball Podcast; and its signature basketball show, Nothing But Net. Each will offer insight and analysis on the latest news, storylines and highlights from around the league.

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ACC Women’s Basketball Piles Up 41 Nonconference Wins With Four Ranked Teams And A UConn At Louisville Showdown Ahead
SEC Women’s Basketball Stands at 55-2 in November 13 Week 2 Notes After First Losses
SEC Women’s Basketball Extends Perfect Start to 51-0 in November 12 Week 2 Notes

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SEC Women’s Basketball Reaches 60-3 in November 15 Week 2 Notes as Georgia Moves to 5-0

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22 hours ago

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November 14, 2026

By

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards holding a basketball during a game

The best start in SEC women’s basketball history kept rolling Saturday, as Mississippi State and Georgia won on the road and Texas rolled at home to push the league to 60-3 in the November 15 Week 2 notes, with Georgia alone at 5-0 and a Sunday slate headlined by USC vs South Carolina in Greenville.

Results

November 10

Furman at Auburn W 74-56
New Haven at Tennessee W 83-40
San Jose State at Oklahoma W 98-44
McNeese at LSU W 100-43

November 11

Evansville at Kentucky W 98-30
Kennesaw State at Georgia W 84-42
Albany at Ole Miss W 95-41
South Dakota State at Texas W 93-63
Troy at Mississippi State W 79-57
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt W 101-59

November 12

South Florida at Florida L 70-72
Middle Tennessee at Tennessee W 110-64
South Carolina at Clemson W 65-44
Alabama at Memphis L 70-75
UAPB at Arkansas W 95-90
UT Martin at Missouri W 103-59

November 13

Oral Roberts at Oklahoma W 93-62
Denver at LSU W 101-37
Auburn at Texas Tech L 71-73

November 14

Mississippi State at Buffalo W 90-57
Georgia at Ohio W 75-55
Tarleton State at Texas W 91-35

Upcoming Schedule

November 15

Eastern Michigan at Kentucky 12 p.m. SECN+
USC vs South Carolina 1 p.m. ABC (The Real SC, Greenville, S.C.)
Vanderbilt at Iowa 1 p.m. FS1
Florida at FSU 2 p.m. ACCNX
Southern at Oklahoma 2 p.m. SECN+
Louisiana Tech at Ole Miss 3 p.m. SECN+
Mercer at Alabama 3 p.m. SECN+
Lindenwood at Missouri 3 p.m. SECN+

November 16

Lamar at Texas A&M 5 p.m. SECN+
Arkansas at Little Rock 8 p.m. ESPN+
Troy at LSU 8 p.m. SECN+

All times Eastern.

Conference Standings

Conference standings (overall; all teams 0-0 in conference play): Georgia 5-0, Arkansas 4-0, Kentucky 4-0, LSU 4-0, Mississippi State 4-0, Missouri 4-0, Oklahoma 4-0, Tennessee 4-0, Texas 4-0, Vanderbilt 4-0, Ole Miss 3-0, South Carolina 3-0, Texas A&M 3-0, Alabama 4-1, Auburn 3-1, Florida 3-1.

Weekly Honors

SEC Co-Players of the Week presented by Allstate: Florida’s Kiyomi McMiller and Kentucky’s Ajša Sivka.

McMiller ranks second in the nation in scoring and her 32 made field goals are the most in the country. Her 42 points vs. UCF on Nov. 5 were the fourth most in program history and the second most in the nation this season. Her 31 points in the season opener were the most ever by a Gator in their first game with the program, and her seven made 3-pointers against UCF are tied for the third most in a game in program history. She earned Associated Press national player of the week honorable mention.

Sivka put together impressive scoring and passing performances in all three of Kentucky’s wins to begin the season: 12 points, a team-high eight assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal in her first game, going 2-of-2 from behind the arc; 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in her second game; and a team-high 32 points against a ranked NC State team, with eight 3s that tied Rhyne Howard for a single-game school record, contributing to a school-record 13 team 3s in the first half and a school-record-tying 18 team 3s for the game, plus five rebounds and three assists. She became the second SEC player since 2002-03 to have at least eight made 3s against an AP ranked team.

SEC Freshman of the Week presented by Allstate: Oklahoma freshman forward LeeLee Bell averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game to lead No. 21 Oklahoma to a 2-0 start, highlighted by a win over No. 12 North Carolina. In her debut against the Tar Heels in Paris, Bell poured in 25 points with eight rebounds and four assists, becoming the first freshman nationally this century to post that stat line in a debut against a ranked opponent; her 25 points were the second highest-scoring debut by any player in Oklahoma history. She followed with her first career double-double, 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in a 95-38 win over Morgan State — the first Sooner, regardless of class, to record that stat line since 2002. Bell earned USBWA National Freshman of the Week honors.

Around the League

SEC women’s basketball teams opened the season with 51 straight wins. The conference currently stands at 60-3. The 51 consecutive wins is the best start in SEC women’s basketball history.
South Carolina is one of two teams playing three of its first four games against ranked opponents. Only four ranked teams faced a ranked opponent in their season opener – both games at Oui Play in Paris. Twelve of the current top-25 teams have not faced any ranked opponents yet this season.
With a 93-point showing to defeat No. 25/25 NC State last Sunday and a 98-point showing over Evansville on Wednesday, UK has scored at least 93 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2015. Those 90+ point performances have come off the back of a school-record-tying 18 team 3s in each of those contests.
The Commodores have won 24 consecutive regular-season games against non-SEC teams. Vanderbilt is 67-20 against nonconference foes under head coach Shea Ralph and 47-5 over the last four seasons.

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SEC Women’s Basketball Moves to 57-3 in November 14 Week 2 Notes After Auburn’s Loss at Texas Tech
ACC Women’s Basketball Reaches 58 Nonconference Wins With UConn at Louisville Ahead
HBCU Hoops Recap: Tennessee State Pushes No. 11 Tennessee to the Wire as Ty-Laur Johnson Drops 22 on Friday Night

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