Duke women’s basketball will start the 2026-27 season at No. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll. 

Entering their seventh season under coach Kara Lawson, the Blue Devils returns three starters and nine players from last year's squad, headlined by Toby Fournier and Delaney Thomas. Duke also brought in Texas transfer Aaliyah Crump and the nation's fourth-ranked freshman class.

Following consecutive Elite 8 appearances, Duke was picked to repeat as the ACC champion this season in the league's preseason poll after sweeping the regular season and tournament titles a year ago. The Blue Devils will open their 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, against Green Bay at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Here's a look at where the Blue Devils landed in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball poll released on Tuesday, Oct. 20:

USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball poll 

The USA TODAY Sports Top 25 women's basketball poll is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. First-place votes in parentheses.

• 1. South Carolina (26)

• 2. UConn (6)

• 3. Southern California 

• 4. Duke 

• 5. Michigan 

• 6. Texas 

• 7. Louisville

• 8. LSU 

• 9. Vanderbilt 

• 10. Iowa

• 11. UNC

• 12. UCLA

• 13. Notre Dame 

• 14. Kentucky

• 15. Washington 

• 16. TCU

• 17. Maryland 

• 18. Minnesota

• 19. Oklahoma State

• 20. Ohio State

• 21. Oklahoma

• 22. Illinois

• 23. Mississippi

• 24. West Virginia 

• 25. N.C. State