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Raleigh, NC – February 3, 2026 – Following a heartbreaking 61-59 home loss to archrival North Carolina on February 2, the NC State Wolfpack women’s basketball team finds itself at a critical juncture. Now sitting at 15-8 overall and 8-4 in the ACC—tied for fifth after the defeat—the Pack must embark on a strong finishing run to climb back into the top four of the conference standings for a coveted double bye in the ACC Tournament and bolster their resume for a potential top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would allow them to host the first and second rounds.

The setback against UNC dropped NC State a game behind Syracuse and Virginia Tech (both 8-3 entering their February 5 matchups) and even with Clemson and Virginia (7-4), while UNC surged to 8-3. With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Wolfpack’s path forward demands consistency, especially against a schedule that mixes must-wins with high-stakes battles.

The Road to an ACC Double Bye

In the ACC Tournament (March 4-8 in Greensboro, NC), the top four seeds receive a double bye straight to the quarterfinals, skipping the first two rounds and gaining valuable rest in a grueling postseason. Louisville and Duke (both 11-0) appear locked for the top two spots, leaving NC State in a dogfight for 3rd or 4th with Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and a streaking UNC (winners of six straight).To reclaim a top-four position, NC State likely needs at least a 5-2 finish (13-5 ACC overall) or better, assuming no major upsets elsewhere. Key steps:

• Sweep the winnables: Home games against Florida State (Feb. 5, 2-8 ACC), Wake Forest (Feb. 26, 2-9), and a road trip to Pitt (March 1, 1-9) are non-negotiable. These bottom-tier opponents offer opportunities to build momentum—NC State can’t afford slip-ups like their earlier home losses to unranked foes.
• Win the tiebreaker games: Road tilts at Virginia Tech (Feb. 8) and home vs. Syracuse (Feb. 22) are pivotal. Victories here not only add wins but provide head-to-head edges in potential ties (ACC tiebreakers prioritize these). A split could leave them at 12-6, risking a drop if competitors like UNC (with a head-to-head win over State) or VT finish strong.
• Upset potential in tough outs: Road games at Notre Dame (Feb. 15, 6-5 ACC) and Duke (Feb. 19, undefeated) are challenging, but a split (e.g., win at ND) could propel them to 14-4. Duke’s perfect record includes a February 5 clash with Louisville—one will blemish, potentially opening the door if NC State capitalizes.

A 5-2 or 6-1 run would position NC State for 13-5 or 14-4, likely securing 3rd or 4th barring collapses by the leaders. Their +12.0 scoring margin and rebounding dominance (+8.7) from earlier stats must resurface to fuel this roll.

Aiming for NCAA Hosting Honors

Beyond the ACC, NC State’s broader goal is earning a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament to host the first and second rounds at Reynolds Coliseum—a massive home-court advantage that could propel them to the Sweet 16 or beyond. The NCAA selection committee prioritizes metrics like NET rankings, Quadrant 1 wins (currently, NC State has notable victories over Stanford and Miami but losses to top teams like Clemson and UNC hurt), strength of schedule, and overall record.

To crack the top 16, the Wolfpack probably need 22-23 wins (finishing 7-0 for 22-8 or 6-1 for 21-9), plus quality victories in the remaining slate. Their non-conference resume includes a win over Tennessee but losses to USC, TCU, and Rhode Island—finishing strong could push their NET into the 15-20 range. Hosting requires not just seeding but venue approval (Reynolds is approved).

Standout performers like Khamil Pierre (16.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG) and Zoe Brooks (16.3 PPG, 4.8 APG)—fresh off her Nancy Lieberman Award watchlist nod—must lead the charge. Defensive intensity (holding opponents to 66.9 PPG) and rebounding will be key to stringing wins.

If NC State gets hot now, starting with Florida State on February 5, they could transform a mid-season stumble into postseason prosperity. The Pack’s history of deep March runs (Elite Eight in 2022) suggests they’re capable—now it’s about execution. Go Pack!