The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540860
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 ■ 37 BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN f te r s ta n d o u t g u a rd s Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniya Rivers exhausted their eligibil- ity following NC State's sixth trip to the Sweet 16 in the past seven tourna- ments, Wolfpack coach Wes Moore had a big rebuilding project on his hands. Moore started the process from within. The Wolfpack returned junior guard Zoe Brooks, sophomore guard Za- mareya Jones and sophomore forward Tilda Trygger, an effective trio that was able to provide a good starting point af- ter all three played key roles last season. "We've got a good nucleus," Moore said. "I think we've got some talent, but they've got to mesh and come together." With three standout players locked into Moore's new-look starting lineup, the veteran coach went to work fill- ing the gaps that remained. The result? A preseason No. 9 squad whose national c h a m p i o n s h i p h o p e s were boosted by a pair of coveted transfers and two top-100 freshmen. It won't take long to see what NC State's 11-mem- ber squad is made of in 2025-26. The Pack will begin its 2025-26 cam- paign with neutral-site games against No. 8 Ten- nessee on Nov. 4 and No. 18 USC on Nov. 9, fol- lowed by a visit from No. 17 TCU a week later. And that's just t h e n o n c o n f e r e n c e season. Four of NC State's upcoming ACC opponents were also ranked in the pre- season Associated Press poll, and that slate begins Dec. 14 with a trip to Mi- ami. A WINNING WINNING COMBINATION COMBINATION Talented Returnees Team Up With High-Impact Transfers To Elevate The Wolfpack Women With Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers gone, junior Zoe Brooks has taken charge of NC State's backcourt. She averaged a career-best 14.2 points per game last season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS