By R.L. Bynum
Russian wing Elizaveta Astakhova, who turns 19 in December, has committed to North Carolina and will likely join the women’s basketball program next season.
Talia Goodman of On3 reported the news Tuesday afternoon.
Astakhova, 6–1, 154 pounds, will be the fourth player on Courtney Banghart’s roster next season with international ties, joining freshmen wings Taissa Queiroz (from Brazil) and Taliyah Henderson (who has represented Canada in international competition), as well as transfer Elina Aarnisalo (who is from Finland), a sophomore transfer from UCLA.
This will be the first time the program has had European players since guard Petra Holešínská. She is from the Czech Republic and played for the Tar Heels during the 2020–21 season after transferring from Illinois.
Last season, Astakhova played for MBA Moscow in the professional Russian PBL league and on the MBA-2 team in the Russian Superleague.
In 39 PBL league games, she averaged 4.7 points and shot 44.1% from the floor and 68.2% at the free-throw line while averaging 3.3 rebounds. In six Superleague games, she averaged 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and shot 35.5% from the floor and 76.5% from the free-throw line.
Her best game in the PBL league last season was in her team’s 78–69 loss on March 18 to Enisey when she collected 20 points, four rebounds and four assists (a career-high, which she has dished out three times) in 20 minutes. She made a career-high four 3-pointers (on six attempts) on March 18 in her team’s 82–71 loss to Enisey.
She scored in double figures in four of the last nine games, including 15 points against Enisey on April 30.
Astakhova had two double-doubles in her six Superleague games, with 17 points and 10 rebounds in her team’s 73–66 victory over Sparta on Oct. 31, and 14 points with 14 rebounds in her team’s 77–70 loss to Sparta on Nov. 1.
Her career-high is 21 points on Jan. 23, 2024, in MBA-2’s 80–78 victory over Spartak SP. She collected a career-high four steals in her team’s 70–56 victory on Nov. 20, 2023, against Spartak.
She is UNC’s fourth 6–1 wing, along with Henderson, Queiroz and redshirt sophomore Laila Hull.
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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 |
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 |
Photos via mbabasket.pro
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