By R.L. Bynum
Co-captain Alyssa Ustby is returning to UNC for a fifth season, saying she’s “not ready to go yet.”
Ustby announced Friday in an Instagram post that she’ll play for Carolina next season as a graduate student after four outstanding seasons for the Tar Heels, including being named first-team All-ACC as a junior and second-team All-ACC as a sophomore and senior.
“The opportunity to wear Carolina across my chest is something I treasure,” Ustby said in the video in her post. “Carolina has supported me every step of the way. It’s a worldwide family that goes far beyond the basketball court. I am inspired every day by the incredible success stories on this campus. That drive for excellence in every part of life is something I will take with me when I leave Chapel Hill. But I’m not ready to go yet.”
Ustby is part of the last class that can play a fifth season under the NCAA’s COVID-19 rules. She’ll graduate with an undergraduate advertising and public relations degree this spring and has been accepted into the MBA program. She’ll follow women’s players Carly Littlefield and Eva Hodgson as MBA students. Armando Bacot also is an MBA student.
“I have one more year to be a Tar Heel to play in Carmichael, and to get to represent you, and coming back with one singular purpose today and every day,” Ustby said. “I am completely focused on doing everything required to leave Chapel Hill and 2025 as someone you’re proud of, as someone you remember as a winner. My teammates deserve that. My coaches deserve that. And you deserve that.”
Earlier this week, UNC awarded Ustby the Jim Tatum Memorial Award, which is given annually to one outstanding senior student-athlete. Ustby threw out the ceremonial first before the baseball team’s Tuesday victory over Gardner-Webb.
One of five finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award for the nation’s top small forward, Ustby produced 15 double-doubles last season, averaging 12.4 points and 10 rebounds in ACC play.
She made history when she got the only triple-double in program history with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 4 in the Tar Heels’ 75–51 home victory over Syracuse. She scored a career-high 25 points on 9 of 10 shooting in UNC’s 58–50 win on Feb. 18 at Wake Forest.
Ustby started all 33 games last season, averaging 12.5 points, a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game, which led the team, and a career-high 3.6 assists.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Lanie Grant and Taliyah Henderson return, with years listed for next season (3 under the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 5 | Liza Astakhova | W | 6–2 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 17 | Elina Aarnisalo | G | 5–10 | |
| 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 | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 |
Entering transfer portal
Guard Lanie Grant, a rising junior
Forward Taliyah Henderson, a rising sophomore
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
