ACC women's basketball preview: League superlatives

The women’s college basketball season is now less than one month away, which means it’s time to start diving into some preseason coverage. The ACC will be the first league we break down at On3, with others to come in the following weeks.

BEST PLAYER: Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame

The 5-6 guard is far and away one of the best players in the country, if not the best. Last season, Hidalgo was named a First-Team All-American and the ACC Player of the Year — and she’s only entering her junior year.

PLAYER WITH THE MOST TO PROVE: Sa’Myah Smith, Virginia

Smith, a national champion, was likely to see an increased role at LSU this season. Instead, she opted to transfer to Virginia, a team looking to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. She’ll add a strong defensive presence and a capable inside scoring threat for the Cavaliers.

COACH UNDER THE MOST PRESSURE: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, Boston College

Bernabei-McNamee has been at the helm of the program since 2018 and has guided her team to the postseason once during her tenure. In 2022, the Eagles secured a spot in the WNIT and reached the Third Round.

Last season, Boston College finished with an overall record of 16-18, including a 6-12 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play. 

With nearly the entire roster opting to transfer and a revamped coaching staff in place, this is a pivotal year for Bernabei-McNamee. The Eagles brought in a few high-major transfers, but they’ll need to show significant progress in ACC play.

MOST INTERESTING ROSTER: Miami

Miami completely retooled their roster this offseason and now has a strong foundation to build upon heading into the year. Their freshman class was highly-recruited, highlighted by versatile wing Danielle Osho. The Canes also added several experienced transfers in Gal Raviv and Ra Shaya Kyle, amongst others. How they come together throughout the year will be fun to watch.

BREAKOUT STAR: Zamareya Jones, NC State

The 5-7 sophomore guard averaged 7.1 points per game off the bench last season and will almost certainly see an expanded role this year with the graduation of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers. She can shoot the ball at a high clip and has a year of experience under her belt now.

SLEEPER: Clemson

Clemson is a team that I expect to make a jump this season — and it feels like few are talking about the Tigers. They retain an experienced core of Hannah Kohn, Mia Moore and Raven Thompson, while adding Wofford’s Rachael Rose and several other talented transfers to the mix.