ACC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Announced
10/14/2025 1:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Orange selected to finish 13th by 70 voters
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University women's basketball team has been selected to finish 13th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by 70 ACC media members.
The Orange received 540 points in the voting, finishing ahead of SMU, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, and Wake Forest. Duke earned 40 first-place votes and topped the poll with 1,525 points, followed by NC State (25 first-place votes, 1,487 points) and North Carolina (1,374 points).
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and her staff have completely rebuilt the roster following a 12-18 campaign in 2024-25, bringing in eight newcomers to replace five graduating seniors. The incoming class features four high-profile transfers: former Texas guard Laila Phelia, Auburn center Oyindamola Akinbolawa, USC guard Dominique Darius, and Miami forward Aurora Almon.
The Orange also welcomes four freshmen to the program, including four-star wing Jasmyn Cooper, point guard Camdyn Nelson, forward Justus Fitzgerald, and Nigerian center Izoje Uche.
Syracuse's returning core is anchored by sophomore Sophie Burrows, who emerged as a key contributor in 2024-25. Burrows more than doubled her scoring output from her freshman season, jumping from 4.6 to 12.2 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.
With a revamped roster and improved depth, the Orange look to exceed preseason expectations and return to the NCAA Tournament this spring.
The ACC also announced its preseason individual honors on Tuesday. Notre Dame junior guard Hannah Hidalgo was named Preseason Player of the Year and headlined the Preseason All-ACC Team while Duke guard Emilee Skinner led the Preseason All-Freshman Team in votes, which also includes Stanford's Hailee Swain and Lara Somfai, North Carolina's Nyla Brooks, California's Aliyahna "Puff" Morris, and Notre Dame's Leah Macy.
Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Zoe Brooks, Jr., G, NC State
Kymora Johnson, Jr., G, Virginia
Toby Fournier, So., F, Duke
Ashlon Jackson, Sr., G, Duke
Tajianna Roberts, So., G, Louisville
Khamil Pierre, Jr., F, NC State
Reniya Kelly, Sr., G, North Carolina
Nunu Agara, Jr., F, Stanford
Laura Ziegler, Sr., F, Louisville
Preseason All-Freshman Team
Emilee Skinner, G, Duke
Hailee Swain, G, Stanford
Nyla Brooks, G, North Carolina
Lara Somfai, F, Stanford
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris, G, California
Leah Macy, F, Notre Dame
Predicted Order of Finish (70 voters)
1. Duke (40)
2. NC State (25)
3. North Carolina (1)
4. Louisville (2)
5. Notre Dame (2)
6. Stanford
7. Virginia
8. Miami
9. Florida State
10. Virginia Tech
11. Clemson
12. California
13. Syracuse
14. SMU
15. Georgia Tech
16. Pitt
17. Boston College
18. Wake Forest
For more on the Syracuse women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on social media.
The Orange received 540 points in the voting, finishing ahead of SMU, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, and Wake Forest. Duke earned 40 first-place votes and topped the poll with 1,525 points, followed by NC State (25 first-place votes, 1,487 points) and North Carolina (1,374 points).
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and her staff have completely rebuilt the roster following a 12-18 campaign in 2024-25, bringing in eight newcomers to replace five graduating seniors. The incoming class features four high-profile transfers: former Texas guard Laila Phelia, Auburn center Oyindamola Akinbolawa, USC guard Dominique Darius, and Miami forward Aurora Almon.
The Orange also welcomes four freshmen to the program, including four-star wing Jasmyn Cooper, point guard Camdyn Nelson, forward Justus Fitzgerald, and Nigerian center Izoje Uche.
Syracuse's returning core is anchored by sophomore Sophie Burrows, who emerged as a key contributor in 2024-25. Burrows more than doubled her scoring output from her freshman season, jumping from 4.6 to 12.2 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.
With a revamped roster and improved depth, the Orange look to exceed preseason expectations and return to the NCAA Tournament this spring.
The ACC also announced its preseason individual honors on Tuesday. Notre Dame junior guard Hannah Hidalgo was named Preseason Player of the Year and headlined the Preseason All-ACC Team while Duke guard Emilee Skinner led the Preseason All-Freshman Team in votes, which also includes Stanford's Hailee Swain and Lara Somfai, North Carolina's Nyla Brooks, California's Aliyahna "Puff" Morris, and Notre Dame's Leah Macy.
Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Zoe Brooks, Jr., G, NC State
Kymora Johnson, Jr., G, Virginia
Toby Fournier, So., F, Duke
Ashlon Jackson, Sr., G, Duke
Tajianna Roberts, So., G, Louisville
Khamil Pierre, Jr., F, NC State
Reniya Kelly, Sr., G, North Carolina
Nunu Agara, Jr., F, Stanford
Laura Ziegler, Sr., F, Louisville
Preseason All-Freshman Team
Emilee Skinner, G, Duke
Hailee Swain, G, Stanford
Nyla Brooks, G, North Carolina
Lara Somfai, F, Stanford
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris, G, California
Leah Macy, F, Notre Dame
Predicted Order of Finish (70 voters)
1. Duke (40)
2. NC State (25)
3. North Carolina (1)
4. Louisville (2)
5. Notre Dame (2)
6. Stanford
7. Virginia
8. Miami
9. Florida State
10. Virginia Tech
11. Clemson
12. California
13. Syracuse
14. SMU
15. Georgia Tech
16. Pitt
17. Boston College
18. Wake Forest
For more on the Syracuse women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on social media.
Players Mentioned
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