By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina’s women’s basketball program received terrific news Thursday when graduate guard Lexi Donarski announced that she would return for a fifth college season.
Donarski didn’t participate in senior day activities and was expected to be back, but she didn’t make it official until a social-media post on Thursday afternoon with the headline, “RUN IT BACK.”
Also on Thursday, the ACC named Donarski and teammate Reniya Kelly to its All-ACC Academic Women’s Basketball Team.
The Tar Heels’ best defender, who usually guarded the best backcourt player on the opposing team, Donarski averaged a career-low 10.5 points and shot 33.9% from 3-point range (up from 31.8% the previous season) in starting 32 of 33 games for UNC last season while swiping 31 steals (one off her career-high).
Donarski dished out a career-low 42 assists (after collecting 82 in the previous season) and shot a career-low 35.7% from the floor. But she also committed a career-low 37 turnovers.
Her season-high scoring total was 23 points, which she scored on Dec. 31 in the 82–76 home win against Clemson when she scored six 3-pointers, and on Feb. 22 in the 80–70 home win over then-No. 6 N.C. State when she hit five 3-pointers.
Donarski also scored six 3-pointers against UNCG and Pitt and had three or more 3-pointers in 10 games last season. She scored 74 3-pointers, her most since making 88 in her sophomore season at Iowa State.
Before coming to Carolina, she played three seasons at Iowa State, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012 and making the Big 12 All-Defensive team in 2023.
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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 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players who 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
