After finishing its 2022-23 campaign 20-12, including being upset by Princeton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the NC State women’s basketball team entered the 2023-24 season unranked.
“Last year we were probably a little bit more inconsistent than we’re used to,” NC State coach Wes Moore said at the 2023 ACC Tip-off prior to last season. “I like rides, but a roller coaster’s not one of them.”
Another tough road to the Big Dance with powerhouses and a grueling ACC slate as obstacles lied in the Wolfpack’s horizon the following season. This time, however, the ride encountered fewer bumps and a smoother finish in NC State’s second ever Final Four appearance, earning the Wolfpack NSJ’s honors as the 2024 College Team of the Year.
Throughout last season, NC State had to beat the giants to become one.
In just the second game of the regular season, the Wolfpack hosted No. 2 UConn after taking a 91-69 beating from the Huskies at their place the year before.
NC State had its hands full with star guard Paige Bueckers and forward Aaliyah Edwards pouring in 27 and 21 points, respectively, but they were no match for guard Saniya Rivers, who broke out for a career-high 33 points in the Wolfpack’s 92-81 win. The Wolfpack also received double-digit scoring outputs from Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Zoe Brooks, showcasing their depth and a preview of the team’s full potential.
Proving the win over UConn wasn’t a fluke, or just another up-and-down roller coaster of Moore’s fears, NC State took on a hot No. 3 Colorado squad at the Paradise Jam on Nov. 25, 2023 and won in a statement fashion 78-60. The Wolfpack jumped out to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, as it was graduate forward River Baldwin who led the way with 24 points.
“We’ve been underestimated because nobody knew what to think of us coming into this year,” Baldwin said after the win over the Buffaloes. “We’re just here to prove everybody wrong.”
“Everybody” definitely applied to the AP poll voters. The Monday after the win over Colorado, The Wolfpack jumped from being the No. 10 team in the county to No. 5.
Throughout its regular season ACC slate, NC State picked up five more wins over ranked opponents, including two overtime wins over No. 22 Florida State and No. 19 Syracuse and victories over No. 24 North Carolina, No. 15 Louisville and No. 16 Notre Dame.
The Wolfpack finished the regular season second in the ACC after being predicted to finish eighth. NC State fell to Notre Dame in the conference tournament final, but it earned a three seed in a stacked Portland 4 bracket in the NCAA Tournament.
Placed in a bracket featuring top-seeded Texas, the Big 12 conference tournament champion, two-seeded Stanford, six-seeded Tennessee and seven-seeded Iowa State, NC State once again had a tough mountain to climb if it wanted to make a deep run.
In the 79-72 second round win over Tennessee, NC State nearly gave up an 18-point halftime lead to Rickea Jackson and company, leading by just two with four minutes left to play. James provided some key fourth quarter buckets to keep the Wolfpack afloat, sending them on to their 16th Sweet 16 appearance.
NC State took care of Stanford 77-67 after a 29-point performance from James and a defensive effort that held star forward Cameron Brink to just 13 points. That momentum carried into the 76-66 Elite Eight win over Texas in which James once again played out of her mind with seven made threes and 27 points.
Now a well-proven and battle-tested team at that point, NC State just had to hurdle the largest obstacle of the season, Dawn Staley and her undefeated South Carolina squad.
NC State ran step by step with the Gamecocks in the first half, trailing just 32-31 at halftime. However, the usual third quarter ambush from South Carolina got the best of the Wolfpack as they were outscored 29-6 coming out of the break.
The season ended in a 78-59 loss to the eventual national champions and a 31-7 final record for the Wolfpack, but even in defeat, the 2023-24 season was a sweet one given it was everything little people thought it would be.
“We’ve had an unbelievable season,” Moore said after the Final Four loss. “I’m proud of these young ladies and the run we’ve been on.”
