Preview: Syracuse Visits North Carolina in ACC Women’s Basketball Showdown

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — Two of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s hottest teams will meet Sunday when the Syracuse Orange visit the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center.

Syracuse (16-3, 6-2 ACC) enters on a four-game winning streak, including a 69-58 victory over then-Stanford last Sunday. The Orange are powered by guard Dominique Darius, who scored 26 points in that win and is averaging 18.1 points in conference play. Her backcourt play will be critical against North Carolina’s defensive pressure.

The Tar Heels (16-5, 6-2) have won three straight, most recently a 54-46 defensive battle at Georgia Tech on Thursday. North Carolina has held opponents under 60 points in four of its last five games. Guard Elina Aarnisalo, coming off a 10-point, 4-assist performance against the Yellow Jackets, provides steady backcourt leadership for a team that thrives on creating turnovers and scoring in transition.

This matchup features a contrast in styles. Syracuse, one of the nation’s top offensive units, will test its high-scoring attack against a North Carolina defense ranked among the ACC’s best. The Tar Heels’ ability to contain Darius and disrupt the Orange’s rhythm will be a key factor.

Both teams are tied in the ACC loss column, making this a pivotal game for conference tournament seeding. Syracuse seeks its first win in Chapel Hill since 2022, while North Carolina aims to protect its home court and continue its climb up the standings.

The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. EST tip-off on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.