By R.L. Bynum
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Reniya Kelly has a lot of championship memories of playing at Legacy Arena, which is only 20 minutes away from her home in Hoover.
The most emotional was her last high school championship game two years ago when she led Hoover High School to a state Class 7-A championship.
“It was like 50 seconds left on the clock, and I subbed out,” Kelly said Thursday ahead of No. 3-seed UNC’s 2:30 p.m. ET Sweet 16 game Friday in that arena against No. 2-seed Duke.
“Everyone was just standing up and clapping for me,” she said. “I was hugging all of my coaches and teammates. I was crying. I usually don’t cry, but it was my most memorable moment for me for sure.”
That was her fourth state title won at that arena after earning the first when she was only 12 years old, so the court almost feels like home. She only failed to win the state title in her ninth-grade season, giving her a 4–1 record in the arena.
“I know she’s a crown jewel of Hoover, and we’re certainly glad that she’s kind of taken over that role in Chapel Hill as well,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said.
There have been numerous round-trip flights from Birmingham to RDU for her family over the last two seasons, but the short drive on Friday and, they hope, Sunday will be a welcome change, with many family members expected to attend the arena.
“This is like a full cycle for me,” said Kelly, who was tournament MVP for Hoover’s last three state titles during her career. “I’m really excited to be here, especially because my family and friends can come out and see me. It’s really a blessing to be back home and be close.”
Kelly knew Carolina would draw a regional in Spokane, Wash., or Birmingham. When the bracket appeared on the TV, learning that the Tar Heels were the No. 3 seed was almost secondary for her to know that wins in the first two rounds would earn her a trip home.
“I was praying about it,” Kelly said. “I wish I could go to Birmingham because I do not want to go to Washington. It’s just great. I just love this place so much because I have so much experience, and the atmosphere is always good here. I’m really just happy to be back in this building.”
Banghart is no stranger to the Birmingham area because she was a frequent visitor to Hoover when she was trying to lure the No. 30 player in the Class of 2023 and the No. 6 point guard in the class.
Kelly made her college debut in November 2023, and although a concussion kept her out of several games as a freshman, she continues to develop into one of the best players in the country.
“She’s exactly on the trajectory and the progression that I would have wanted and hoped for. It’s been earned,” said Banghart, who calls Kelly the most improved player in the ACC from last season to this season. “You look at how she runs our team, how little the team has changed and how much better we are, it’s because she’s been in charge of it.”
Banghart likes to call Kelly a “dog” with the passionate demeanor on the court and how aggressive she is on both ends. It was clear when she missed three games late in the season nursing a right knee injury that the offense doesn’t run as well without her.
“She plays with great passion,” Banghart said. “She’s an easy kid to support. Even the way she was able to manage that kind of a slight injury to then be back and kind of be full form and really help us beat the Florida States of the world, et cetera, as we’ve played over the last few games.”
The absence of Kelly, as well as graduate forward Alyssa Ustby, for the second meeting with Duke in Durham on Feb. 27 was a big reason that the Tar Heels lost 68–53 after winning the first game on Jan. 9 53–46 in overtime.
Kelly will be there on Friday, where she’s won four state titles, and is eager for a big win over UNC’s rival to put the Tar Heels one win closer to her fifth career championship.
“Obviously, everyone wants to win,” Kelly said. “The main focus is to win. Obviously, this is a big rival, and I think the fans are going to love it. The TV is going to love it. Everyone is going to love it. I just think we’re ready to win a game.”
For the crown jewel of Hoover, it would be just the latest huge victory in Birmingham.
Fort Worth 1 Regional
FIRST ROUND
Last Friday’s results
Chapel Hill
No. 5 Maryland 99, No. 12 Murray State 67
No. 4 North Carolina 82, No. 13 Western Illinois 51
Last Saturday’s results
Storrs, Conn.
No. 1 UConn 90, No. 16 UTSA 52
No. 9 Syracuse 72, No. 8 Iowa State 63
Columbus, Ohio
No. 3 Ohio State 74, No. 14 Howard 54
No. 6 Notre Dame 79, Fairfield 60
Nashville, Tenn.
No. 2 Vanderbilt 102, No. 15 High Point 61
No. 7 Illinois 66, No. 10 Colorado 57
SECOND ROUND
Last Sunday’s result
Chapel Hill
North Carolina 74, Maryland 66
Monday’s results
Columbus, Ohio
Notre Dame 83, Ohio State 73
Storrs, Conn.
UConn 98, Syracuse 45
Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt 75, Illinois 57
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
Fort Worth, Texas
Friday’s results
Notre Dame 67, Vanderbilt 64
UConn 63, North Carolina 42
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday’s result
UConn 70, Notre Dame 52
| Date | Day/month | Scores | Opponent/event (current ranks) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 30 | Thursday | L, 91–82 | No. 4 South Carolina in Atlanta | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 90–42 | vs. N.C. Central | 1–0 |
| 6 | Thursday | W, 71–37 | vs. Elon | 2–0 |
| WBCA Challenge Las Vegas | ||||
| 13 | Thursday | L, 78–60 | vs. No. 2 UCLA | 2–1 |
| 15 | Saturday | W, 82–68 | vs. Fairfield | 3–1 |
| ——————————— | ||||
| 20 | Thursday | W, 85–50 | at N.C. A&T | 4–1 |
| 23 | Sunday | W, 94–48 | vs. UNCG | 5–1 |
| Cancun Challenge Cancun, Mexico | ||||
| 27 | Thursday | W, 83–48 | vs. South Dakota St. | 6–1 |
| 28 | Friday | W, 85–73 | vs. Kansas State | 7–1 |
| 29 | Saturday | W, 80–63 | vs. Columbia | 8–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge | |||
| 4 | Thursday | W, 79–64 | at No. 3 Texas | 8–2 |
| ——————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 82–40 | vs. Boston Univ. | 9–2 |
| 14 | Sunday | L, 76–66, OT | vs. No. 13 Louisville | 9–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 | Wednesday | W, 84–34 | vs. UNCW | 10–3 |
| 21 | Sunday | W, 93–74 | vs. Charleston Southern | 11–3 |
| 29 | Monday | W, 90–38 | at Boston College | 12–3, 1–1 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 1 | Thursday | W, 71–55 | vs. California | 13–3, 2–1 |
| 4 | Sunday | L, 77–71, OT | vs. Stanford | 13–4, 2–2 |
| 11 | Sunday | L, 73–50 | at No. 22 Notre Dame | 13–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | Thursday | W, 73–62 | vs. Miami | 14–5, 3–3 |
| 18 | Sunday | W, 82–55 | at Florida State | 15–5, 4–3 |
| 22 | Thursday | W, 54–46 | at Georgia Tech | 16–5, 5–3 |
| 25 | Sunday | W, 77–71, OT | vs. Syracuse | 17–5, 6–3 |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | W, 61–59 | at N.C. State | 18–5, 7–3 |
| 5 | Thursday | W, 53–44 | vs. Clemson | 19–5, 8–3 |
| 8 | Sunday | W, 84–56 | vs. Wake Forest | 20–5, 9–3 |
| 12 | Thursday | W, 94–42 | vs. SMU | 21–5, 10–3 |
| 15 | Sunday | L, 72–68 | at No. 8 Duke | 21–6, 10–4 |
| 19 | Thursday | W, 66–63, OT | at Virginia Tech | 22–6, 11–4 |
| 22 | Sunday | W, 78–50 | vs. Pittsburgh | 23–6, 12–4 |
| 26 | Thursday | W, 82–70 | at Virginia | 24–6, 13–4 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | W, 72–69 | vs. No. 8 Duke | 25–6, 14–4 |
| ACC tournament | Gas South Arena, Duluth, Ga. | |||
| 6 | Friday | W, 85–68 | Quarterfinal vs. Va. Tech | 26–6 |
| 7 | Saturday | L, 65–57 | Semifinal vs. No. 13 Louisville | 26–7 |
| NCAA tournament Fort Worth 1 Regional | ||||
| 21 | Friday | W, 82–51 | First round in Chapel Hill: vs. Western Illinois | 27–7 |
| 23 | Sunday | W, 74–66 | Second round in Chapel Hill: No. 17 Maryland | 28–7 |
| 27 | Friday | L, 63–52 | Sweet 16 in Fort Worth, Texas: vs. No. 1 UConn | 28–8 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
