NC State women’s basketball announces returning players. Who’s back next season?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- N.C. State announced the return of starters Khamil Pierre, Zoe Brooks and Qadence Samuels.
- Pierre averaged a double-double with 16.7 points and 11.9 rebounds in 2025-26.
- N.C. State staff will continue to seek replacements after the transfer portal closed.
The N.C. State women’s basketball roster lost a handful of key contributors to the transfer portal, but announced the return of three starters.
Junior Khamil Pierre is the biggest name — outside of Zoe Brooks — sticking with the Wolfpack next season. Brooks and Qadence Samuels previously announced their decisions to return. They join Maddie Cox, Ky’She Lunan and Adelaide Jernigan.
Pierre, Brooks and Samuels were part of the starting five for most of the season and averaged a combined 39 points and 21.4 rebounds per game.
Pierre, who will be a senior next season, came to N.C. State last season after transferring from Vanderbilt. She led the team in scoring (16.7 points), making her shots at a 52.5% clip, and rebounding (11.9 rebounds) to average a double-double.
For most of the season, Pierre led the Power Four ranks in total rebounds and rebounds per game and was only usurped after the Wolfpack ended its NCAA Tournament run in the second round.
She reached double digit scoring in 30 of her 32 games played. She reached 20 points in nine.
Pierre continued her success on the glass and added at least 10 rebounds in 23 matchups, and recorded two 20-board performances. Additionally, Pierre finished with a career-high 22 double-doubles during her lone season in Raleigh.
Transferring to NC State after portal closed
The forward’s journey to Raleigh was well-documented. She was unexpectedly dismissed from the Commodores program last summer, after the transfer portal closed.
Her representation contacted college teams she was interested and still had roster spots. She was not allowed to speak with coaches, because the portal had closed. Once it was determined which schools would be willing to add her, and which schools would work with her late enrollment, she was able to apply.
N.C. State’s staff could not talk to Pierre until she was accepted into the university.
Pierre struggled at the beginning of the season but found her rhythm late. She credits her friendship with young fan Braylon Collins for helping her find her joy and purpose again.
Two Wolfpack bench players also returning
Lunan and Jernigan return for their sophomore seasons. The duo came off the bench, with Lunan impressing during the NCAA Tournament’s first round. Lunan replaced Brooks, who left the game with an injury, and helped lead the Pack to a 15-point win over Tennessee.
Jernigan played limited minutes this season but scored a career-high 10 points in the team’s 110-56 win over Southern Miss, and added nine against SMU.
Cox, who will be a senior next season, elevated her role during the 2025-26 season. She came off the bench and averaged 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 30 appearances. The forward scored 11 points against Coastal Carolina, going 3 for 6 from the perimeter. She also notched 12 rebounds against Seton Hall. Cox has been a member of the Pack for three years, going to the Final Four, Sweet 16 and Round of 32.
The transfer portal has closed and the N.C. State staff will continue to seek replacements for players who left the program. It will add freshmen Kymora Pruitt and Annsley Trivette through its incoming signing class.
