By R.L. Bynum
Two North Carolina women’s players have entered the transfer portal less than a week after a third entered her name.
Senior centers Alexandra Zelaya and Anya Poole have put their names in the portal, with the Poole news reported by The Next Hoops. They follow sophomore guard Paulina Paris, who entered the portal on March 26 and committed to Arizona on Tuesday.
Zelaya, who played in only 21 of Carolina’s 33 games last season, and Poole are eligible to play a fifth season under the NCAA COVID-19 rules.
Zelaya posted about her decision on Instagram.
“I have decided to enter the transfer portal as a graduate student to play my fifth year of college basketball,” posted Zelaya, who has already talked to Oregon, Arizona State and UNC Wilmington and wants to study environment science. “Thank you to Carolina and the community that poured into me. My experience here was once in a lifetime, one I’ll never forget. Once a Tar Heel, always a Tar Heel.”
The departures of Zelaya and Poole, along with Teonni Key on Tuesday, leave UNC with four roster spots, assuming the Tar Heels don’t add to their three-player incoming freshman class and that all other underclassmen and graduate guard Lexi Donarski return.
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UNC’s other two seniors, Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are also eligible to play a fifth season.
Poole started only six of 33 games last season after starting 31 times the season before. In 116 games and 74 starts over four seasons, she averaged 5.0 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Poole scored in double figures 20 times in her career, with a career-high 17 points on Nov. 14, 2021, at Charlotte. She had four career double-doubles, including 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against Minnesota on Dec. 1, 2021.
Zelaya played in 88 games in four seasons at UNC, starting four, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds.
Her career-high was 12 points when she scored a career-high four 3-pointers in Carolina’s 80–70 home victory on Feb. 22 against Final Four-bound N.C. State. Zelaya only scored in double figures one other time, with 10 points in UNC’s 69–61 loss in the 2022 Sweet 16 loss to South Carolina.
Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
WW — Virginia transfer; — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; X — Stanford transfer
Entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | Clemson |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 | BYU |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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