UNC women lose talented freshman and a reserve to ACL tears

By R.L. Bynum

Carolina’s women’s basketball team is facing adversity even before the season begins.

Highly touted freshman Teonni Key and redshirt junior Ariel Young have both suffered knee injuries that have been diagnosed as ACL tears and will miss the entire season. Both will redshirt this season.

Young hurt her left knee during preseason practice and Key injured her right knee during a closed scrimmage at South Carolina last month.

The Tar Heels open Coach Courtney Banghart’s third season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against North Carolina A&T (ACC Network Extra).

“I’m absolutely heartbroken for both Ariel and Teonni, two very important pieces of our team’s puzzle,” Banghart said. “Both of these athletes have such a genuine love for the game and this program, and both have become huge parts of this team. They have put so much work into their development and training and to be forced to the sideline for the duration of the season is a tough pill to swallow for us all.

“It’s also undoubtedly a huge hit for our team,” Banghart said. “Our collective group is hard at work to fill their void on both sides of the ball. Both AY and Teonni will redshirt and they will attack their rehab in much the same way they have attacked their development plan. We look forward to having them back better than ever.”

Key, a wing from Cary, is a huge part of UNC’s No. 2-ranked freshman class. She is a McDonald’s All-America who was the nation’s No. 9-ranked recruit in the class and was expected to start at the four spot.

Young, a guard from Tallahassee, Fla., averaged 2.4 points in 24 games last season after transferring from Michigan.

UNC schedule

Date	Day, time, TV	Location	Opponent
	November
9	Tuesday, 4:30, ACCNX	Home	N.C. A&T
14	Sunday, 3:30, ESPN+	Road	Charlotte
17	Wednesday, 6, ACCNX	Home	Appalachian State
21	X-Sunday, 4:30, ESPN+	Road	TCU
26	Y-Friday, TBA	Bimini, Bahamas	VCU or Washington
27	Y-Saturday, TBA	Bimini, Bahamas	VCU or Washington
	December
1	X-Wednesday, 9, BTN	Road	Minnesota
5	Sunday, 2, ACCNX	Home	James Madison
12	Sunday, 2, ACCNX	Home	UNC Asheville
15	Wednesday, 6, ACCNX	Home	Jacksonville
19	Sunday, 2, ACCNX	Road	Boston College
21	Tuesday, 1, ACCNX	Home	Alabama State
30	Thursday, 6, ACCNX	Home	Syracuse
	January
2	Sunday, 6, ACCN	Home	Clemson
6	Thursday, 8, ACCN	Road	N.C. State
9	Sunday, 6, ACCN	Home	Virginia Tech
16	Sunday, 1, RSN	Road	Notre Dame
20	Thursday, 6, ACCNX	Home	Virginia
23	Sunday, noon, ACCN	Road	Georgia Tech
27	Thursday, 7, ACCNX	Road	Duke
30	Sunday, TBA, ESPN or ACCN	Home	N.C. State
	February
3	Thursday, 8, RSN	Road	Wake Forest
6	Sunday, noon, ACCN	Home	Miami
10	Thursday, 6, ACCNX	Home	Pittsburgh
13	Sunday, 1, ACCNX	Road	Virginia Tech
17	Thursday, 6, RSN	Home	Louisville
20	Sunday, noon, RSN	Road	Florida State
24	Thursday, 7, ACCNX	Road	Virginia
27	Sunday, TBA, ESPN2 or ACCN	Home	Duke
	March
2– 6	ACC Tournament	Greensboro