By R.L. Bynum
Forward Nyla Harris, a four-star recruit out of high school, is transferring from Louisville to North Carolina, making her the Tar Heels’ first addition out of the transfer portal.
Harris, a 6–2 rising senior with one year of eligibility left, started 32 of 33 games last season for the Cardinals, leading the team with 54% shooting from the floor and 77.6% from the free-throw line while averaging 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Her overall numbers were down last season from her sophomore season when she averaged 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and shot 56.3% from the floor.
“We went into the postseason really excited about our returning roster and very intentional about who and what we added,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said.
“Nyla is the perfect fit. She is a proven winner in our conference, an elite rebounder and high-motor two-way contributor in the ACC,” Banghart said. “She will bring great experience and her personality lights up the room. Importantly, Nyla is hungry to be part of this special team and she makes us better.”
Her addition comes a day after the Tar Heels lost rising senior Tray Crisp to the transfer portal.
Harris talked about leadership at Louisville media day before last season.
“It is being more on top of myself before I am trying to lead one of my teammates and just making sure that I have everything in order for myself,” Harris said. “That’s when I can definitely lead my teammates in the best way possible. And that might have taken this whole time doing those things up to this point where now, I can show up with those leadership skills. And when we’re in tight games or whatever it may be, I’m kind of one of those people that they look up to on what the decision may be.”
Harris was the No. 35 player in ESPN’s Class of 2022 rankings after leading Lake Highland Prep to the Class 4-A Florida state title in her junior season. Out of high school, she picked Louisville over UNC, N.C. State and Georgia Tech.
Harris, who was on the 2025 Leslie Award watch list, scored her career high of 22 points in Louisville’s 73–72 loss at Syracuse on Feb. 11, 2024, which is one of nine career double-doubles. Her best scoring game last season was 18 points in an 81–76 overtime victory at Wake Forest on Jan. 5.
During her three seasons, Louisville was only 1–2 against UNC, with her best game being 16 points in the Tar Heels’ 79–68 victory in Chapel Hill on Jan. 21, 2024. She had one of 11 double-figure rebounding games, with 12 in the Cardinals’ 62–55 home win over UNC on Feb. 5, 2023.
In last season’s 79–75 loss to UNC, Harris had 10 points and six rebounds.
Harris had a total of 11 points and 11 rebounds and was 4 of 14 from the floor in Louisville’s four postseason games when the Cardinals went 1–1 in the ACC tournament and in the NCAA tournament.
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 11 | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52 | 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 | 5 | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | |
| Senior | 8 | 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 |
UNC schedule
| Date | Day/ month | Time | Opponent/event (rank in final poll) |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | |||
| 18 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Davidson (exhibition) |
| November | |||
| 2 | Monday | TBA | Oui-Play in Paris vs. No 12 Oklahoma |
| 8 | Sunday | TBA | Ally Tipoff in Charlotte vs. No. 2 South Carolina |
| 11 | Wednesday | TBA | vs. N.C. Central |
| 14 | Saturday | TBA | at Penn in Palestra |
| WBCA Showcase | Orlando | ||
| 19 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | vs. Texas Tech |
| 21 | Saturday | 5 p.m. | vs. No. 24 Alabama |
| ——— | |||
| 24 | Tuesday | TBA | vs. Gardner-Webb |
| 27 | Friday | TBA | vs. Army |
| 29 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Brown |
| December | |||
| 2 | Wednesday | TBA | ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge vs. No. 8 LSU |
| 6 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Elon |
| 9 | Wednesday | 11 a.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 13 | Sunday | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| 17 | Thursday | TBA | vs. Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Monday | TBA | vs. Norfolk State |
| 28 | Monday | TBA | vs. UNCW |
| 31 | Thursday | TBA | at Syracuse |
| January | |||
| 3 | Sunday | TBA | at Clemson |
| 7 | Thursday | TBA | vs. Wake Forest |
| 10 | Sunday | TBA | at No. 11 Louisville |
| 17 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Boston College |
| 21 | Thursday | TBA | at California |
| 24 | Sunday | TBA | at Stanford |
| 28 | Thursday | TBA | vs. No. 9 Notre Dame |
| 31 | Sunday | TBA | vs. No. 5 Duke |
| February | |||
| 4 | Thursday | TBA | at Miami |
| 7 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Virginia Tech |
| 14 | Sunday | TBA | at SMU |
| 18 | Thursday | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 21 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Florida State |
| 25 | Thursday | TBA | vs. No. 19 Virginia |
| 28 | Sunday | TBA | at No. 5 Duke |
| March | |||
| 3–7 | Wed.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
Photo via gocards.com
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