The 2025-26 season marks the eighth-straight year that NC State has achieved a single-digit ranking in the AP top 25 poll, with the Wolfpack entering the season at No. 9.
Head coach Wes Moore’s program has maintained such consistent excellence, despite featuring anchoring stars with different styles of play. The squads centered around an elite big in Elissa Cunane became the guard-centric groups of Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James. But the wins, conference crowns and long tournament runs kept coming.
Now, newcomer Khamil Pierre will define a Wolfpack team that seems sure to improve upon their No. 9 ranking, having opened the season with a thrilling win over No. 8 Tennessee, 80-77. That certainly will be true if they prevail in the second game of the season against another ranked opponent, as NC State meets No. 18 USC in Charlotte for the Ally Tipoff at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The Pierre-led Pack will be a problem
Yes, the transfer from Vanderbilt scored what proved to be the game-winning basket in the opener, converting a late transition layup that secured the victory for NC State. But it was everything Pierre did before her final bucket that put the Wolfpack in position to get the win over Tennessee, and will put them in position to stack wins throughout the season.
The 6-foot-2 junior forward introduced the Pack faithful to her powerful offensive game, applying her combination of athleticism and skill to own the area around the hoop as she scored 21 points. Pierre also hauled in 14 rebounds while demonstrating defensive activity with three steals.
Her performance provoked frustration, as well as high praise, from Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell, who said afterwards, “I don’t think we guarded her at all. She’s a really good transition player. I think she’s one of the best players in the country… We can’t seem to find her on a box out, and if we do get a stop, she’ll go get it and put it back in.”
Moore, likewise, gushed about Pierre, saying of his new star, “Khamil (Pierre)… Exactly what we were hoping to get. Somebody that can go out and get a double-double, rebound, score the ball, made some tough shots, got some big boards… Just really proud.” Moore further indicated that he believes more Pierre will be the path to success for the Pack, as he stressed that he would like to see her get more touches because she’s such a high-percentage finisher around the basket.
Yet, NC State can maintain their status as one of the sport’s best teams because they’re also more than Pierre.
That begins with her frontcourt partner, Tilda Trygger. The 6-foot-6 sophomore forward from Sweden looks to have taken a leap, showcasing increased comfort on the offensive end as her smooth scoring stroke resulted in 19 points on better than 60 percent shooting against Tennessee. If teams direct too much defensive attention to Pierre, Trygger can make them pay.
The Wolfpack’s prowess, however, is not limited to the froncourt.
While the Pierre-Trygger tandem could be the best frontcourt in the ACC, so could the backcourt duo of Zoe Brooks and Zam Jones. The opener was uneven for the two guards, but both have stamped themselves as drivers of success during their time in Raleigh. The junior Brooks will get her buckets from the midrange and around the basket, all while stuffing the other areas of the stat sheet. Slotted as an off-the-bench scorer as a freshman, the now-sophomore Jones should be able to become a more dangerous, diverse offensive player by using her scoring threat to open up playmaking opportunities.
The Pack’s core four are capable of matching up with just about any team in the country. But after that, there are questions about who Moore can rely on.
UConn transfer and junior Qadence Samuels has claimed the fifth starter spot, supplying plenty of defensive energy. Her unthreatening offensive game, however, could prove problematic. Against Tennessee, Moore did not exhibit much trust in anyone else, with only sophomore guard Devin Quigley register double-digit minutes. Albeit in just five minutes, freshman Ky’She Lunan did flash some sizzle, getting up four shots and scoring five points in her short stint.
On Sunday afternoon, NC State’s top talents, led by Pierre, should have enough juice to outpace USC.
That is, unless the Trojans and head coach Lindsay Gottlieb show an ability to sustain success amidst change, just like the Wolfpack and Moore.
Can the Trojans take a page from the Pack?
This season, will USC’s identity be defined by the absence of JuJu Watkins? Or, can the Trojan’s establish a JuJu-less identity?
Sunday presents the Women of Troy with their first true test, as a season-opening blowout of New Mexico State didn’t provide much pertinent information.
With a guard- and wing-heavy roster, USC seems ill-equipped to slow NC State’s frontcourt, which will put pressure on the Trojans to produce a lot of points from their perimeter-based players. Although it would be encouraging if freshman Jazzy Davidson had a star-making afternoon, a Trojan upset seems more likely to be driven by experienced transfers in seniors Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones. While Dunn, who spent the first three seasons of her career at Georgia Tech, is a steady offensive operator, Jones, previously of UCLA, can catch fire whenever she take the court and swing the game towards the Trojans.
But as much as USC would like to exit Charlotte with the upset, finding a formula can lead to future wins would also be a worthy victory for Gottlieb and her team.
