By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — Senior days don’t always have the same finality in the post-COVID era, when seniors can return for a fifth season.

On Sunday, North Carolina honored four members of a senior class that has been a big part of the resurgence of the women’s program — guard Deja Kelly, wing Alyssa Ustby, and post players Anya Poole and Ali Zelaya — after the Tar Heels’ 63–59 win over Duke.

Under NCAA COVID-19 rules, all could play a fifth season.

“They’ve got to make some decisions, and that’s the lay of the land now,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “They get to make decisions based on the information they have. It would do no justice to this program or this journey to ask them in the middle of it what’s best for you and what’s best for us because it’s just a finite experience.”

Even though senior night might be a little different for one last season, Banghart looks at it the same way.

“For me, I just went all in on senior night,” Banghart said. “If any of them are back, we’ll celebrate them again because then they’ll be graduate students. We have four four-year seniors and that’s just really rare and really special.”

Unless a player or players transfer out of the program, there would be only spots for two since Carolina is at the 15-player scholarship limit. That’s because the program will welcome two freshmen next season — Bianca Thomas (a five-star center from Charlotte) and guard Jordan Zubrich (a four-star guard from Minnesota).

In addition, UNC is on the final list (along with South Carolina, UConn and LSU) for 6–3 Sarah Strong, a forward at Grace Christian Academy in nearby Sanford who is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2024. She just led her team to a third consecutive NCISAA 3-A championship.

Announcements from the program or the seniors aren’t expected until after the season. But it would be no surprise if Ustby returned, and Kelly could also decide to come back. Both have earned plenty of NIL money.

In an age of roster turnover, there are often surprises to people outside of the program.

A year ago, few people outside the program would have expected Kennedy Todd-Williams to transfer after three seasons or Destiny Adams to leave for Rutgers in her home state of New Jersey for her junior season. But neither transfer was a surprise to the UNC coaching staff.

On Sunday afternoon, Todd-Williams had her senior day with the final Ole Miss home game. She scored 15 points in the Rebels’ 87–43 win over Arkansas. She also is eligible to play a fifth college season.

Two highly touted recruits who redshirted during their first seasons in Chapel Hill will make their college debuts next season: five-star forward Ciera Toomey and wing Laila Hull, the 2023 Indiana Player of the Year.

Three guards who have missed significant time this season could return in Paulina Paris (who will be a junior), Reniya Kelly (sophomore) and Kayla McPherson (redshirt junior.) UNC will no doubt request a waiver for McPherson so she has three more seasons of eligibility instead of only two.

Also expected back are guard Sydney Barker (who will be a sophomore), forward RyLee Grays (sophomore), guard Indya Nivar (junior), forward Teonni Key (redshirt junior), Maria Gakdeng (senior) and guard Lexi Donarski (a graduate student with one more year of eligibility).

Potential UNC 2024–25 roster

Year	No.	Players	Pos.	Height
Freshman	—	Lanie Grant (5 star)	PG	5–10
Freshman	—	Blanca Thomas (5 star)	C	6–5
Freshman	—	Jordan Zubich (4 star)	G	5–11
RS Freshman	21	Ciera Toomey	F	6–4
RS Freshman	4	Laila Hull	W	6–1
Sophomore	10	Reniya Kelly	PG	5–7
Sophomore	15	Sydney Barker	PG	5–6
RS Junior	11	Kayla McPherson	PG	5–8
Junior	24	Indya Nivar	G	5–10
Senior	5	Maria Gakdeng	C	6–3
Graduate	—	Grace Townsend	G	5–5
Graduate	20	Lexi Donarski	G	6–0
Graduate	1	Alyssa Ustby	F	6–1

2023–24 UNC players to enter transfer portal

Class	Player	Date entered	Pos.	Hgt	Next school
Junior	Paulina Paris	March 26	G	5–9	Arizona
Graduate	Ali Zelaya	April 1	F	6–4	UNCW
Graduate	Anya Poole	April 1	F	6–2	TBA
RS junior	Teonni Key	April 2	F	6–4	Kentucky
Sophomore	RyLee Grays	April 5	F	6–3	TBA
Graduate	Deja Kelly	April 8	G	5–8	TBA