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For the first time in over ten years, Duke women’s basketball has secured a prominent spot in the preseason rankings, landing at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 poll released on Monday. This high placement positions Coach Kara Lawson’s team just behind perennial powerhouses South Carolina, UConn, and USC as the 2026/27 NCAA women’s basketball season approaches.
Kara Lawson Building Title-Chasing Team in the Preseason
The Blue Devils earned this recognition following a dominant spring campaign in which they swept both the ACC regular-season and tournament championships, marking their strongest performance since 2013. Entering the new season as the ACC preseason favorite, Duke faces a challenging slate that features nine ranked opponents, including five teams ranked within the top seven nationally.
Coach Lawson’s squad will rely on the experience of three returning starters complemented by an influx of promising newcomers. Sophomore Toby Fournier, who was honored as an AP All-American last season, leads the group of returnees and has already been named to the preseason All-ACC team.
Fresh talent bolsters the roster with freshmen Autumn Fleary and Bella Flemings both securing spots on the ACC preseason All-Freshman team. Additionally, highly touted top-five recruit Emilee Skinner is expected to make her debut after sitting out last season due to injury. The team’s depth is further enhanced by Aaliyah Crump, a transfer from Texas and the No. 5 recruit in the 2025 class.
The Blue Devils will officially begin their quest for another championship on November 3rd, hosting Green Bay at 7 PM ET, with the game broadcast live on ACCNX.
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