Where each NC State women’s basketball player stands going into the offseason

By Noah Fleischman

NC State’s late-season surge through the regular season allowed the Wolfpack to claim a share of the ACC title before its campaign ended with a Sweet 16 loss to LSU on Friday night at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. 

The Pack has a tall task this offseason, having to replace its three veteran leaders — Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniya Rivers. That trio were three of NC State’s top four scorers, while they were the program’s leading scorer (James), top rebounder (Hayes), and Rivers led the team in assists, steals and blocks. 

Those are some big shoes to fill. Here is a look at where the Wolfpack’s returning players stand going into the transfer portal and offseason. 

Core pieces: Zoe Brooks, Zam Jones, Tilda Trygger

NC State coach Wes Moore has never been afraid to play young players in big roles. That will pay off with his stars departing Raleigh. Brooks, a sophomore, has been in key spots ever since she joined the Wolfpack, including starting 34 games as the team’s point guard this past season. 

Brooks, a flashy, lightning quick guard, was second on the team in scoring with 14.2 points to go with 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals a game this past season. She will be an integral part of the Wolfpack’s plans moving forward, slotting in as the starting point guard yet again next year. 

Jones, meanwhile, is also a crafty guard that can score the basketball in bunches. The former McDonald’s All-American averaged 7.1 points with 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 16.8 minutes a game. The rising sophomore wasn’t afraid of the moment in the postseason, scoring 18 points and 21 points in the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech and UNC, respectively, before she added 18 in the Sweet 16 loss to LSU. The 5-foot-7 guard could start at either point guard or shooting guard next season, and depending on what the Pack brings in through the transfer portal, she could be the team’s sixth woman again. 

While the Pack’s top two returners are its fun-to-watch guards, Trygger gained valuable experience as the team’s starting post player for the last 22 games. She averaged 22.1 minutes a night, scoring 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds a contest. She seemingly improved each night she took the floor. Trygger, a natural power forward, could slide into that role next season if Moore is able to pluck a starting center from the transfer portal. That would allow the Stockholm, Sweden, native to present a mismatch for opposing teams with her 6-foot-6 frame and an ability to knock down 3-pointers on occasion. 

Role players: Devyn Quigley, Lorena Awou, Maddie Cox 

This is a group of players that seemed to grow into their spots as the season progressed, and all three should be able to earn more minutes going into next season. 

Quigley, the No. 47 player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, emerged as a stout rebounder and do-it-all guard, similar to what Hayes provided the Wolfpack. Although she averaged just 8.3 minutes an outing across 33 games, Quigley wasn’t discouraged with her playing time. She knew it was a positive for growing in the Wolfpack’s program. Now, she seems primed to compete for a starting spot next season on the wing, depending on the Pack’s transfer portal acquisitions. If anything, she will be a key player off the bench as a sophomore. 

Awou, meanwhile, continued to evolve as a freshman. The Pack wasn’t sure of its post depth to start the year, but she was able to give the team solid minutes off the bench in her first year. Awou averaged 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.8 minutes a game. With an offseason of work, she could become a force on both ends of the floor at the post. Expect her minutes to go up next season as the team’s top post option off the bench. 

Rounding out the group is Cox, who played just 7.9 minutes a night in 30 appearances as a sophomore. While she was one of the Pack’s lesser-used players, Cox proved she is more than capable of handling herself in the team’s front court. She posted her best effort of the year with 8 points and 7 rebounds with solid defense in the Sweet 16 loss to LSU. That should not only boost her confidence, but it should also show Moore and his staff that she can compete against the best competition. Expect Cox to have a bigger role next season. 

TBD: Adelaide Jernigan, Destiny Lunan, Mallory Collier, Laci Steele

This is the wildcard section, including the Pack’s two incoming freshmen and two current players that may or may not enter the transfer portal.

Lunan, the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year, is a likely key bench player going into her freshman season. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 21.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 3.2 assists during her senior campaign at Goodyear (Ariz.) Millennium High. Expect Lunan to play at the shooting guard or wing spot in Raleigh. Jernigan, meanwhile, likely slots in as a guard reserve. 

Collier and Steele, two rising juniors, played sparingly this past season, and Steele has entered her name in the transfer portal. Collier, who started 11 games, averaged just 11.3 minutes a contest and didn’t play more than nine in the last 14 contests. Steele, who seemed frustrated on the bench at times down the stretch of the season, saw action in 23 of the Pack’s 35 games with just 6.8 minutes and 1.7 points an outing. 

Other notes

Current available scholarships: 5

Just because NC State has six open scholarships currently, that doesn’t mean it will use them all. The Pack operated the entire season with two available spots this past year. Moore is likely to utilize the transfer portal to his advantage, and the expectation should be for the Pack to bring in at least three — a guard, a wing and a post player — from other schools going into the 2025-26 campaign. 

Out of eligibility: Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniya Rivers