Raleigh, North Carolina
🏀 NC State Wolfpack

When you enter through the ornate doorways of Reynolds Coliseum, the history of NC State athletics surrounds you. From championship banners hanging from the rafters to the display cases lining the concourse, the arena is a living, breathing monument to the Wolfpack’s storied past. Though it was the longtime home of men’s basketball, the legacy of the Coliseum has evolved over the decades to become inextricably linked with the Wolfpack women, who began play in 1974.

Playing their first game at Reynolds Coliseum in the winter of 1949, the Wolfpack men entertained many raucous crowds during their fifty-year tenure at the venue. With fans seemingly right on top of the court, the design of the venue – similar to that of nearby Cameron Indoor – created a demanding environment for opponents and proved to be a tough place to play. The Pack were ACC Tournament champions 10 times during their time at Reynolds, also winning their only two National Championships while competing at the arena. The squad’s departure in 1999 – in which they moved just down the road to the Lenovo Center – would solidify the coliseum as the exclusive home of women’s basketball.

After 15 years on their own at the arena, the Wolfpack women finally received a much-needed overhaul of their aging facility. When the 5,500-seat venue reopened in 2016 following an extended closure, a brand new lobby – featuring the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame and glamorous art-deco statues – welcomed fans into a new era of Wolfpack athletics. Memorabilia from many of the university’s athletic teams are on display here, along with items pertaining to the professional and Olympic accomplishments of former school athletes. A lap around the arena’s concourse also serves as a walk through history, with cases highlighting each of the Wolfpack programs and the athletes who have excelled during their time in Raleigh.

As for women’s basketball, the Wolfpack have built a tradition of excellence that rivals their male counterparts. Under the guidance of legendary head coach Kay Yow and her successors, the Pack have also cemented themselves as perennial contenders on the national stage. Since their inception, the team has made 30+ NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Final Four in 1998 and 2024.

The Wolfpack women have thrived in the intimate atmosphere of Reynolds Coliseum, using the often electric crowd to their advantage against even the toughest foes. The Wolfpack faithful have, in turn, embraced the women with the same fervor they hold for the men, their deafening roar hearkening back to the days when their beloved Pack would dominate the ACC inside the historic walls of Reynolds Coliseum. Now, as the current squad continues to chase championships, this revered cathedral continues to be the beating heart of NC State basketball.