NC State vs. Wake Forest: Key ACC Showdown Preview

Winston-Salem, N.C. — On Thursday evening at 6 p.m. EST, the NC State Lady Wolfpack will hit the road to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in an important Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

This contest highlights two of the ACC’s competitive women’s programs as both teams look to solidify their place in the conference hierarchy midway through the season.

Records & Stakes

NC State (12-5, 5-1 ACC) enters with a strong conference mark and has been one of the more consistent squads in ACC play.
Wake Forest (12-6, 2-4 ACC) is working to climb out of a mini-slump and gain traction in league standings. They return home after splitting recent games and hope the familiar setting boosts their performance.

This meeting marks an early pivot point in ACC play: a win for NC State would strengthen their claim as a contender in the league, while a Wake Forest upset would be just the spark the Deacons need to shift momentum.

Head-to-Head & Recent History

Though the two teams haven’t yet met in ACC play this season, NC State has dominated the all-time series historically, boasting a substantial edge and a long active winning streak against Wake Forest.

NC State and Wake Forest will play for the 96th time in the all-time series, holding an 81-14 record in the series

Matchup Spotlight

NC State Wolfpack

Conference Form: 5-1 in ACC play.
Scoring & Pace: NC State scores an average of 76.4 points per game while boasting one of the stronger point differentials in league action.
Key Player: Khamil Pierre leads the Pack in scoring and rebounding and anchors both offense and defense, giving NC State an edge in the paint and on the glass.
Zoe Brooks paces the Pack with 4.4 assists per game and has averaged 14.5 points per game

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Defensive Identity: Wake Forest ranks among the better defensive teams in the ACC, yielding just 56.8 points per game and holding opponents under 35 % shooting — a testament to their disciplined, physical style.
Offensive Contributors: Grace Oliver and Mary Carter provide scoring punch and rebounding, but Wake will need improved efficiency to keep pace with NC State’s balanced offense.

Keys to Victory

For NC State, controlling the boards and pushing the tempo early could force Wake Forest into half-court sets where NC State’s depth is a major advantage. Maintaining defensive intensity — especially on Wake Forest’s transition opportunities — will be crucial.

For Wake Forest, limiting turnovers and operating with patience on offense are priority No. 1. Exploiting their physical defense to generate stops and convert them into transition points will give them the best shot at upending the Wolfpack.

Tip-off: 6 p.m. EST, Thursday, January 15, 2026 ACC Network Extra – Live Stats