By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina’s women will play for the first time in the Battle 4 Atlantis, an event that the men’s team has been involved in three times.
According to the Atlantis website, the Tar Heels, led by fifth-year forward Alyssa Ustby, are participating in the eight-team tournament, set for Nov. 23 through 25.
UNC, which is coming off a 20–13 season and an NCAA tournament appearance, will be joined by four others who made the tournament — Baylor (26–8 last season), Columbia (23–7), Indiana (26–6) and Texas A&M (19–13) — along with Ball State (28–6), Southern Mississippi (20–14) and Villanova (22–13).
It’s the second time in four seasons that Coach Courtney Banghart’s team has played in the Bahamas around Thanksgiving. In 2021, the Tar Heels played two games at the Goombay Splash in Bimini, Bahamas. Last season, the Heels played in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla.
Carolina hasn’t released its non-conference women’s schedule, but it is expected to be out next week. Other known games are a home matchup in the ACC/SEC Challenge against Kentucky on Dec. 5 and a game against Florida in the Jumpman Invitational at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on Dec. 18. UNC will also play a neutral-site game in North Carolina against UConn, likely at the Greensboro Coliseum.
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The Tar Heels’ men’s team hasn’t won the title in the event, held annually at the Imperial Arena on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. UNC has gone 6–3 in appearances in 2014, 2019 and last season, when it rebounded from an 83–81 semifinal loss to Vilanova with an 87–72 victory in the consolation game.
While the women are in the Bahamas, the men’s team will be in Hawaii. The Tar Heels play at Hawaii on Nov. 22 before heading to Maui to play the Maui Invitational from Nov. 25 until 27.
While the men’s version of the Battle 4 Atlantis began in 2011, the inaugural women’s event was in 2021.
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
