If you walked into Cameron Indoor Stadium back in November, you might have felt a bit of a chill. Not just from the winter air settling over Durham, but from a Duke team that looked like it was treading water. They were sitting at a mediocre 3-6 record after a tough loss to LSU. People were whispering. Was the Kara Lawson era hitting a ceiling? Honestly, those people weren't paying attention to the schedule. Duke played the toughest slate in the country to start the year, basically inviting every powerhouse in the nation to beat them up so they’d be ready for January.
Fast forward to right now, January 2026, and the narrative has flipped. Completely.
The Mid-Season Turnaround No One Expected
This Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team is currently riding a massive eight-game win streak. They didn't just win; they dismantled opponents. You look at that 100-49 shellacking of Boston College on New Year’s Day and you realize this isn't the same squad that struggled in Paris against Baylor. They’ve found a rhythm that looks sustainable.
Winning at Stanford on January 11th was a statement. It was the program's first-ever win on the Cardinal's home court. Think about that. Decades of Duke history, and this specific group was the one to finally break through in Palo Alto. They forced 19 turnovers and basically suffocated a very good Stanford team. That’s the Kara Lawson identity: defense that makes you want to quit.
Who is actually carrying the load?
It’s not just one person. That’s the beauty of it.
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- Toby Fournier has been a revelation. She’s a sophomore forward who plays like she's personal friends with the rim. In the win against Syracuse, she dropped 22 points. Against Stanford, she had 16 points and 4 blocks. She’s essentially a walking highlight reel.
- Delaney Thomas is the silent assassin. She put up 20 against Cal and 19 against Stanford. When the game gets tight, they go to Thomas.
- Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair provide the veteran backcourt stability. Jackson is a senior now, and she’s shooting the ball with a confidence we haven't seen in previous seasons.
- Arianna Roberson is the "X-factor" off the bench. She’s 6'4", long, and mobile. Her 20-point performance against Cal showed that Duke’s depth is arguably their biggest weapon.
Why the Kara Lawson Era is Different
Most people compare every Duke coach to the legendary Gail Goestenkors. That’s fair, but it’s also kind of lazy. Lawson isn't trying to be Gail. She’s building a pro-style culture that mirrors what she saw in the WNBA and with USA Basketball. Speaking of which, she was just named the 2025 USA Basketball Coach of the Year and will lead the National Team through the 2028 Olympics.
That matters for recruiting.
When a kid sees their college coach holding a gold medal and calling plays for A'ja Wilson in the summer, they want to play for her. It's why the 2026 recruiting class is already looking scary. They’ve already secured commitments from high-level talent like Autumn Fleary, Bella Flemings, and Sanai Green. The pipeline is open.
The Defensive Masterclass
Duke leads the ACC in several defensive categories, which isn't a fluke. It's a choice. They held 33 of 34 opponents below their season scoring averages last year. This year, they are doing it again. They play a style that is physically exhausting to play against. They aren't just guarding you; they are existing in your personal space for 40 minutes.
The "New" ACC Landscape
With Stanford and Cal now in the ACC, the travel schedule is brutal. Duke just finished a West Coast swing that would break most teams. They flew to Berkeley, then down to Stanford, and won both. In the old days, a trip to Virginia Tech was a "long" road trip. Now, they're crossing three time zones for conference play.
The fact that they are 7-0 in the ACC (as of mid-January) despite the travel and the early-season losses tells you everything you need to know about their mental toughness. They didn't fold when they were 3-6. They got better.
What to Watch For Next
The schedule doesn't get easier. They have a massive home game against Virginia on January 15th, followed by Georgia Tech. But the date everyone has circled is February 15th. That’s when North Carolina comes to Cameron.
The rivalry is still the peak of the sport in this state. UNC is talented, but Duke’s current form suggests they might be the team to beat in the conference.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the "Points Off Turnovers" stat: If Duke is scoring 20+ points off opponent mistakes, they are almost impossible to beat. Their half-court offense is good, but their transition game fueled by defense is elite.
- Monitor Toby Fournier’s minutes: She is the engine. If she stays out of foul trouble, Duke’s ceiling is the Final Four.
- Check the AP Poll: Expect a massive jump. They started the season ranked #11, dropped out after the 3-6 start, and are now charging back toward the top 10.
- Buy tickets early: Cameron is small (9,314 capacity). With the way this team is playing, the "Cameron Crazies" are showing up in force for the women's games, and sellouts are becoming the norm again.
Duke is no longer "rebuilding." They are a finished product that is dangerous, deep, and coached by arguably the best mind in the game right now. If you're betting against the Blue Devils in March, you're probably going to lose your shirt.
Next Steps for Followers:
Track the live box scores for the upcoming Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh games. Specifically, watch how the rotation shortens as Lawson prepares for the meat of the ACC schedule. If the bench continues to produce double-digit scorers like Roberson, Duke will likely enter the ACC Tournament as a #1 or #2 seed.