By R.L. Bynum

Russian 6–1 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.

She’ll be the fourth player on Courtney Banghart’s roster next season with international ties, joining freshmen Taissa Queiroz (from Brazil) and Taliyah Henderson (who has represented Canada in international competition), as well as UCLA transfer Elina Aarnisalo (who is from Finland).

This will be the first time the program has had European players since guard Petra Holešínská. She is from 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 games in the PBL league, 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 was in her team’s 78–69 loss on March 18 to Enisey when she collected 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes.

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.

Projected UNC roster next season

(Next season’s class listed)

Year	No.	Players	Pos.	Height
Freshman	—	Elizaveta Astakhova	W	6–1
Freshman	7	Nyla Brooks	W	6–2
Freshman	3	Taliyah Henderson	W	6–1
Freshman	26	Taissa Queiroz	G	6–1
Sophomore	17	Elina Aarnisalo	G	5–10
Sophomore	0	Lanie Grant	PG	5–10
Sophomore	34	Blanca Thomas	C	6–5
Sophomore	1	Jordan Zubich	G	5–11
RS sophomore	21	Ciera Toomey	F	6–4
RS sophomore	4	Laila Hull	W	6–1
Junior	10	Reniya Kelly	PG	5–7
Junior	15	Sydney Barker	PG	5–6
RS senior	11	Kayla McPherson	PG	5–8
Senior	2	Nyla Harris	F	6–2
Senior	24	Indya Nivar	G	5–10

Class of 2025

Player	Rating	ESPN rank	Position	Height	Hometown
Nyla Brooks	Five star	No. 13	Wing	6–2	Alexandria, Va.
Taliyah Henderson	Five star	No. 27	Wing	6–1	Tucson, Ariz.
Taissa Queiroz	Four star	No. 77	Guard	6–1	Santa Rosa, Calif.