California women's basketball coach Charmin Smith and Stanford are adapting to travel challenges by changing practice schedules and using larger planes to avoid refueling stops, as extensive cross-country trips have historically impacted team performance.

The league and teams are still gathering data and learning from the first year of expanded travel, aiming to develop better strategies for managing future cross-country trips.

The ACC's travel challenges mirror those faced by the Big Ten after its expansion, with teams trying to balance competitive fairness and logistical feasibility.

The ACC women's basketball landscape is shifting, with 11 of last year's all-ACC first-team players gone, creating opportunities for new stars like Notre Dame's Hidalgo and players from N.C. State, Duke, and Virginia.

Key returnees in women's ACC basketball include Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Zoe Brooks (N.C. State), Toby Fournier (Duke), and Kymora Johnson (Virginia), as the league transitions with many top players departing.

Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo aims to improve and take on a leadership role this season, especially after a disappointing last year and the transfer of Olivia Miles, focusing on performance and resilience.

The Miami Hurricanes, ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25, secured their second rivalry win over Florida State this season, with Coach Mario Cristobal emphasizing the importance of reducing mistakes and building on their success.

Despite their success, Miami's team is focused on continual improvement, with players like quarterback Carson Beck and coach Cristobal stressing the need to eliminate errors to sustain their high ranking.

Some teams, such as Louisville, view long trips as opportunities for team bonding or scenic stops, but overall, extensive travel remains a significant challenge for ACC teams.

California and Stanford have experimented with travel logistics, including leaving earlier and using larger charter planes to minimize fatigue, based on lessons learned from the first year.

The league's scheduling adjustments, such as teams playing twice on the same trip and facing cross-country games on consecutive days, have made travel more demanding for teams.

The league is actively evaluating its travel arrangements to streamline future trips and improve overall logistics for participating teams.