By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina’s women’s basketball team will reportedly play two mid-November games in Las Vegas.
According to report from Mitchell Northam on SB Nation, based on multiple sources, the Tar Heels will play two games at the event, likely on Thursday, Nov. 13, and Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Michelob Ultra Arena, the home of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
On one day, UNC will face UCLA, and Fairfield will play South Florida. On the other day, Carolina would play Fairfield, and UCLA would take on South Florida.
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The Bruins, led by Coach Cori Close, won the Big Ten title, went 34–3 and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history. Fairfield went 28–5 last season, won the Metro Atlantic and made the NCAA tournament. UCLA ascended to No. 1 in the AP poll and was No. 3 in the final poll.
One of UNC’s incoming transfers, Elina Aarnisalo, played at UCLA last season.
The Tar Heels return starters Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar from last season’s team that went 29–8 and made the Sweet 16, and welcome two transfers — Aarnisalo and Nyla Harris from Louisville — and three freshmen — five-star wings Nyla Brooks and Taliyah Henderson and four-star guard Taissa Queiroz.
(UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| 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 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
