By R.L. Bynum
Taissa Queiroz could only watch from the sidelines as North Carolina’s women’s basketball team made a run to the Sweet 16, but the incoming four-star freshman will be part of a couple of high-profile WNBA exhibition games this weekend. In addition, two former UNC players will make their WNBA preseason debuts in the coming days.
Queiroz, a 6–1 forward from Santa Rosa, Calif., who enrolled at UNC for the spring semester and practiced with the Tar Heels, will play for the Brazilian National team in nationally televised exhibition games that will be homecoming games for two WNBA stars.
On Friday at 9 p.m. (televised on Ion), the Brazilians will play in Baton Rouge, La., against the Chicago Sky, featuring former LSU star center Angel Reese. On Sunday at 4 p.m. (ESPN), Queiroz’s team will head to Iowa City, Iowa, to face the Indiana Fever, with star Caitlin Clark playing on the court where she won numerous games during her Iowa career.
Queiroz helped Brazil win the gold medal in the 2022 FIBA U18 South America Cup in Argentina. She also played for Brazil in the 2022 FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship (the team finished fourth), the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup (14th) and the 2021 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championships (6th), earning an All-Star 5 award in the latter. In 25 international games, she averaged 11.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Former UNC and Oregon point guard Deja Kelly makes her WNBA preseason debut at 7 p.m. Friday when her Las Vegas Aces play the Dallas Wings in South Bend, Ind. (Ion). Kelly signed a training-camp contract with the Aces after averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Ducks last season. Also at Aces camp is former Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL.
Alyssa Ustby, who signed a one-year free agent contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, was waived Friday by the Sparks.
Maria Gakdeng, who signed a training camp contract with the Atlanta Dream, plays her first exhibition game at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the road against the Washington Mystics (League Pass). The 6–3 forward averaged 10.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season for UNC in earning All-ACC second-team honors. Atlanta signed veteran center Brittney Griner in the offseason.
Rosters must be cut to 12 players by the start of the regular season on May 16. There are 16 each on the Dream and Aces rosters.
When you can watch
Friday’s games
Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces in South Bend, Ind., 7 p.m. (Deja Kelly), Ion
Brazilian National team (Taissa Queiroz) vs. Chicago Sky in Baton Rouge, La., 9 p.m., Ion
Sunday’s game
Brazilian National Team (Queiroz) vs. Indiana Fever in Iowa City, Iowa, 4 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday’s game
Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces (Kelly), 10 p.m., League Pass
Wednesday’s game
Atlanta Dream (Maria Gakdeng) at Washington Mystics, 11:30 a.m., League Pass
Photo courtesy of FIBA
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