Duke women's basketball will enter the 2025-26 season ranked as the No. 6 team in the country, per the USA Today Sports Preseason Women's basketball coaches poll released on Thursday, Oct. 23.

The Blue Devils and sixth-year head coach Kara Lawson are coming off a 29-8 finish in 2024-25 with a trip to the Elite 8, finishing the season ranked No. 7 in the country. Duke returns four starters from last season while bringing in freshmen Emilee Skinner and Anna Wikstrom with some transfer portal additions.

Duke is picked to finish first in the ACC, per the ACC Preseason Poll that was released on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The Blue Devils open their 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 3 in Paris, France, against Baylor in the 2025 Oui-Play Paris.

USA Today Sports Preseason Women's Basketball Coa

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