By R.L. Bynum
A member of North Carolina’s women’s basketball coaching staff is leaving to become the associate head coach at another school for the second straight offseason.
After five years as an assistant coach under Coach Courtney Banghart at UNC, Adrian Walters will become the associate head coach for Texas Tech’s women’s program. In the previous offseason, Itoro Coleman left the Carolina staff to become the associate head coach at Virginia Tech under first-year head coach Megan Duffy.
Joanne Aluka-White is UNC’s associate head coach and has been on the staff since 2019.
The Red Raiders went 19–18 last season and lost in the third round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
UNC made the NCAA tournament all five seasons with Walters on the staff, including a pair of second-round appearances and a Sweet 16 berth last season.
Before coming to Chapel Hill, Walters spent one season (2019–20) as an assistant coach for Alabama’s women’s program. He also spent seven years on the Auburn staff and was an assistant coach at Georgetown for the 2011–12 season.
Walters was an associate coach for the El Camino College men’s program for three seasons (2008–11) and was an associate head coach at Hampton (2006–07).
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 Communications
