Duke women’s basketball is once again the favorite to win the ACC.
The Blue Devils, in their seventh season under coach Kara Lawson, were picked to finish first in the ACC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish, the league announced Tuesday, Oct. 13. The poll was conducted among the conference’s 18 head coaches and a Blue Ribbon Panel.
Duke received 1,649 total points, including 49 first-place votes. Louisville finished second with 1,580 points and 22 first-place votes, followed by North Carolina and Notre Dame.
The Blue Devils also had three players earn preseason honors. Junior forward Toby Fournier was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team, while freshmen Autumn Fleary and Bella Flemings were selected to the Preseason All-Freshman Team. Fournier finished second to Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo in voting for Preseason Player of the Year, receiving 767 points to Hidalgo’s 871.
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Fournier is Duke’s top returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 17.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season.
Duke returns three starters and nine players from last year’s squad. The Blue Devils swept both the league’s regular season and tournament titles last season for the first time since 2013. They advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, where they fell to eventual national champion UCLA.
Duke will open its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, against Green Bay at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
SEASON PREVIEW: Duke women’s basketball ready for 2026-27 season under Kara Lawson
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Preseason Player of the Year
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Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team (76 voters)
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Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame – 871
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Toby Fournier, Jr., F, Duke – 767
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Kymora Johnson, Sr., G, Virginia – 655
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Uche Izoje, So., C, Syracuse – 466
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Khamil Pierre, Sr., F, NC State – 456
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Zoe Brooks, Sr., F, NC State – 455
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Tajianna Roberts, Jr., G, Louisville – 265
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Imari Berry, Jr., G, Louisville – 220
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Talayah Walker, Jr., G, Georgia Tech – 202
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Lulu Twidale, Sr., G, California – 113
Preseason All-Freshman Team
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Kate Harpring, G, North Carolina – 493
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Jacy Abii, G/F, Notre Dame – 376
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Autumn Fleary, G, Duke – 274
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Bella Flemings, G, Duke – 205
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Missy Odom, F, Florida State – 99
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Kimora Fields, F, Clemson – 96
Predicted Order of Finish (76 voters)
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Duke (49) – 1,649
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Louisville (22) – 1,580
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North Carolina (1) – 1,462
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Notre Dame (4) – 1,450
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NC State – 1,337
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Virginia – 1,085
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Syracuse – 1,009
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Virginia Tech – 1,003
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Clemson – 988
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California – 786
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Miami – 689
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Georgia Tech – 684
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Stanford – 674
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Florida State – 603
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SMU – 373
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Wake Forest – 296
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Pitt – 236
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Boston College – 170
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke women’s basketball picked to repeat as ACC champ in preseason poll