Duke Picked to Win Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC selected Duke as the favorite to claim the conference title in its preseason poll.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that the Duke women's basketball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the league championship. The conference also named Notre Dame senior guard Hannah Hidalgo as the preseason player of the year.
Why it matters
These preseason rankings offer a glimpse into the anticipated hierarchy of the conference for the upcoming season, reflecting the expectations placed on top-tier programs by coaches and media alike.
Duke secured 49 of the 76 total first-place votes cast by a panel of 18 coaches and 58 media members. Preseason player of the year Hannah Hidalgo enters the season after averaging 25.3 points and 5.2 assists per game last year.
The players
Duke University
This private research university based in Durham is a prominent member of the Atlantic Coast Conference with a historically competitive women's basketball program.
Hannah Hidalgo
She is a senior guard for the Notre Dame women's basketball team who has been recognized for her significant offensive output.
The details
Following Duke in the preseason rankings, Louisville was selected to finish second, while North Carolina and Notre Dame were picked to finish third and fourth respectively. N.C. State rounded out the top five in the balloting conducted by the conference panel.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: The conference released the preseason rankings and honors.
Season Trajectory
The preseason selection of Duke sets the tone for a competitive season where Louisville, North Carolina, and Notre Dame are expected to challenge for conference supremacy. These rankings serve as a baseline for the playoff picture and influence the narrative for the upcoming league schedule.
Duke enters the season with the target on their back as the projected conference champion, while Hannah Hidalgo remains the primary individual focus for opposing defensive game plans. Fantasy participants and bettors should monitor whether these top-four seeds maintain their projected standings throughout the league schedule.
The takeaway
Preseason polls represent the collective expectations of the sport's experts but do not account for mid-season injuries or emerging breakout players. Fans should track early non-conference performance as a more reliable indicator of potential success than these initial rankings.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming college basketball season, visit the Basketball section.
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