UNC’s women to open next season in Paris against Oklahoma

By R.L. Bynum

Carolina’s women’s basketball team will open next season in Paris against Oklahoma, and it will be the second trip to France for UNC guard Elina Aarnisalo.

The game on Nov. 2, 2026, will be part of the fourth annual Oui-Play Paris Women’s Basketball Series. It will be a doubleheader, with South Carolina facing Maryland in the other game.

In this season’s doubleheader, played on Monday, No. 16 Baylor knocked off No. 7 Duke 58–52, and No. 19 Vanderbilt beat California 74–65 in the second game.

The series began at Halle Georges Carpentier Arena on Nov. 6, 2023, when South Carolina beat Notre Dame 100–71, and is co-organized by Complete Sports Management and Paris Basketball.

In 2004, it expanded to two games, with Aarnisalo playing for UCLA in its 66–59 victory over Louisville and Southern Cal beating Ole Miss 68–66.

The Tar Heels will meet the Sooners for the sixth time and first since the 2023 Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte. Carolina has won the last two meetings and leads the overall series 3–2.