One Rising Star, One Fallen Giant: The ACC’s Storyline Nobody Saw Coming
There’s something electric whipping through ACC women’s basketball this fall, and all eyes are on Hannah Hidalgo. The Notre Dame guard was officially named 2025–26 ACC Preseason Player of the Year by the league’s coaches and media, a heavy nod of confidence as she prepares for her junior season. Hidalgo enters after a dominant sophomore campaign, averaging 23.8 points per game while shooting approximately 40% from three and about 85% from the free-throw line. She’s not just a scorer; she’s proven to be a leader, a clutch performer, and a consistent force when Notre Dame is asked to carry more load than usual. Notre Dame is now ranked No. 15 in the AP preseason poll, and much of the spotlight will follow her all season. The Irish have lost key players to the WNBA and to the transfer portal, so Hidalgo’s presence becomes the spindle around which the new roster must spin.
Syracuse’s Fall from Grace & Rocky Reset
On the flip side of expectation lies Syracuse, a once-proud program that now stands in the shadow of transition. The Orange were projected to finish 13th in the ACC preseason poll, after a disappointing 12–18 overall mark and a 6-12 record in league play last season. Their campaign ended in heartbreak: after leading by 19 at halftime in an ACC Tournament game, Syracuse collapsed and lost to Boston College. The talent drain has been real; five of their top seven scorers departed, including star Dyaisha Fair, leaving the roster thin on proven production. Their top returner is Sophie Burrows, and the Orange hopes Texas transfer Laila Phelia can resurrect the spark she showed in her Big Ten days. There are no returning players on preseason All-ACC rosters, and no freshmen making that initial splash in the preseason projections. For Syracuse, this season may feel less like a climb and more like a survival test.
What This Means for the ACC & What to Watch
This dichotomy, a star ascending, a program resetting, may define the narrative arcs in the ACC this year. Hidalgo’s preseason honor isn’t just a title; it’s a gauntlet thrown to every opponent who dares believe Notre Dame is vulnerable. If she delivers, the Irish may punch above what most expect. Meanwhile, Syracuse’s projected low standing gives them room for surprise; if Phelia catches fire and Burrows steps up, they could exceed expectations. Across the conference, the ACC poll has Duke picked as the favorite, with NC State and North Carolina also ahead of Notre Dame in the pecking order. My guess is you can bet media, fans, and coaches will keep one eye on South Bend, another on Syracuse, to see whether they can flip this narrative. For Notre Dame, Hidalgo may be the fulcrum that shifts games; for Syracuse, this may be a year of finding pieces, identity, and little victories. The ACC’s 2025-26 season will be richer, tension-filled, and forever changed by how these stories play out.
