By R.L. Bynum
Redshirt sophomore forward Teonni Key became the fourth UNC women’s player to enter the portal in eight days.
Key entered the portal on Tuesday, her mother Tammy Brown confirmed to Tar Heel Tribune.
Sophomore guard Paulina Paris, who committed Tuesday night to Arizona, entered her name into the portal on March 26, followed by senior centers Anya Poole and Ali Zelaya on Monday. The four UNC players in the portal combined to average 13.5 points per game last season.
The other 10 schools on Key’s final list coming out of Cary High School were Auburn, UConn, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee.
UNC will have plenty of competition for front-court playing time with senior 6–3 center Maria Gakdeng, 6–4 redshirt freshman forward Ciera Toomey and freshman 6–5 center Blanca Thomas, as well as 6–3 sophomore forward Rylee Grays.
Former UNC guard Kennedy Todd-Williams returning for a second season at Ole Miss.
In addition, Carolina is among the final three schools that 6–2 point forward Sarah Strong out of Sanford’s Grace Christian Academy, the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2024, is considering, along with Duke and UConn. Strong said Tuesday afternoon during an interview with ESPN that she would make a decision “in the next week or so.”
Carolina has four roster spots if the Tar Heels don’t add to their three-player incoming freshman class and all other underclassmen and graduate guard Lexi Donarski return.
Senior co-captains Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby have yet to announce their plans, but both are eligible to play for a fifth season under NCAA COVID-19 rules.
Elsewhere in the ACC, Clemson has five players in the portal, Miami four and Pittsburgh four.
Teonni Key’s sister Tamari, who was a senior at Tennessee last season, also has another year of eligibility but will not use it. That comes after the school fired head coach Kellie Harper on Monday.
Teonni Key sat out her first season at Carolina, the 2021–22 season, while recovering from torn ACL, then played 51 games the last two seasons, starting once.
Key averaged 9.8 minutes, 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in her two seasons at UNC. She scored in double figures four times: 13 points on Nov. 13, 2022, against South Carolina State, 11 points on Feb. 15, 2024, against Pittsburgh, and 10 points each at Indiana on Dec. 1, 2022, and at Georgia Tech on Jan. 18, 2024.
WFMY story on Tar Heel Tribune
Key played a career-high 22 minutes in UNC’s season-ending 88–41 loss at South Carolina, going scoreless with four rebounds and two assists. She played 21 minutes in Carolina’s first-round 59–56 victory over Michigan State, collecting five points and seven rebounds. Key never played more than 19 minutes in any other game for UNC.
ESPN ranked Key No. 9 in the Class of 2021. Her departure leaves redshirt sophomore guard Kayla McPherson (who ESPN ranked No. 17 in the class) as the only remaining member of that four-player Carolina recruiting class. Morasha Wiggins (No. 18) transferred to Arizona State after her freshman season at UNC and Destiny Adams (No. 20) transferred to Rutgers after her sophomore season at UNC.
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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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