The Louisville Cardinals have emerged as the team to beat in the ACC, a reality that's caught a few NCAAW watchers by surprise — but something that was always part of the team's larger vision for the 2025-26 season.
The Cardinals didn't have their strongest season last year, and suffered a few key losses that sparked conversations about the once-dominant team's staying power. But Louisville always made it known that the team's 2024-25 freshman class — much of which is still intact at the school now — was recruited very deliberately. And, as many ACC fans are seeing now, it seems those plans are coming to fruition.
While many were looking to Duke and NC State to dominate the ACC. Both teams have had solid seasons, but the Blue Devils are currently ranked No. 21 and NC State isn't even on the latest list from the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are the No. 8 ranked team in the nation, a feat they pulled off in part thanks to two huge wins against Notre Dame (79-66) and NC State (88-80).
The result is that the Cardinals are leading the ACC and, if they keep playing the way they have been, on track to be major contenders during the March Madness tournament later this year.
The Cardinals are 18-3 this season
The fact that the Cardinals are boasting a 18-3 record this season is even more table when you consider who they lost those three games to: defending champions UConn, Kentucky, and South Carolina. While Kentucky's season is a bit all over the place (the Wildcats have lost two of their last four games and are currently ranked No. 11 overall and will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, later this week to meet the Lady Vols), both UConn and South Carolina are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Louisville's young core is showing what they're made of
The Cardinals lost a few key players last season, but it's starting to look like the young core is the future — which is exactly what they should be. Louisville saw six of their freshman from last year come back to the program for their sophomore season, and those six players are more than showing what they're made of. (That core includes Tajianna Roberts, Mackenly Randolph, and Imari Berry — three players who have put in powerhouse performances game after game so far this season).