NC State Put Together a Season for the Record Books

NC State lost to South Carolina 59-78 in the Final Four this evening, and while a loss is always disappointing, what this Wolfpack team did this season was nothing short of remarkable.

There was a lot of unknowns surrounding this squad entering the 2023-24 season. NC State had lost 4 starters (Diamond Johnson, Jakia Brown-Turner, Jada Boyd, Camille Hobby). As a result, the Wolfpack entered the season unranked.

At one point this season, NC State went from unranked to #3 in the land, and finished the regular season ranked 11th.

The Wolfpack are 1 of 8 teams in Women’s College Basketball history to start unranked and reach the Final Four (NC State did the same thing in 1998).

NC State finished with 31 wins, marking only the 2nd time in program history the Wolfpack has won 30+ games in a single season. The only other time NC State has won 30+ games was in 2021-22, when the Pack went 32-4.

The Wolfpack were picked to finish 8th in the ACC in the Preseason Poll, and earned the #2 seed in the ACC Tournament. That’s tied for the biggest jump into the ACC Top-4 since the Preseason Poll started in 1991-92.

The Pack made it to the ACC Tournament Championship Game for the 18th time, and the 4th time in the past 5 seasons. The Wolfpack are now tied for the most ACC Title Game appearances.

The Wolfpack beat 9 ranked teams, tying a program record.

NC State went to the Final Four for only the 2nd time in program history, joining the 1998 squad in the record books.

The Wolfpack were extremely balanced, with 5 players averaging double figures. They were 1 of 11 schools to do so.

Junior Guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers both earned a spot on the All-ACC 1st Team.

More could be said, but I think you get the point. Tonight ended in a loss, and that will always sting, but this Wolfpack teams was one of the best Women’s Basketball Teams to ever wear the Red and White.