32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER
RUNNING RUNNING
IT B IT BACK ACK
Returning Stars
Boost The Pack's
Outlook
In 2026-27
BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN
n an era of year-to-year player movement,
the NC State women's basketball team did
its best to retain as much of its roster from
last season as possible.
Wolfpack coach Wes Moore likes to re-
ward his returnees for their production,
and despite losing four players to the portal,
the 14th-year coach kept six of his top performers
heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
That core, surrounded by a pair of transfers and
a trio of incoming freshmen, may be able to posi-
tion the team for a strong season after the 2025-26
campaign ended with a 92-63 loss to Michigan in
the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
CORE PLAYERS
Khamil Pierre, Zoe Brooks,
Desiree Wooten
The top priorities in NC State's roster-retention
efforts, Brooks and Pierre are back for their senior
seasons. Keeping both in the fold was a major win
for Moore and his staff. It allowed the coaches to
build the rest of the Wolfpack's roster and strategy
around the talented duo.
Pierre, who transferred in from Vanderbilt last
summer, was every bit as effective as hoped during
her junior season. She led the Pack with 16.7 points
I
Khamil Pierre is coming back for a second season in
Raleigh after leading the Pack with averages of 16.7
points and 11.9 rebounds per game in 2025-26.
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS
