By R.L. Bynum
Gabby White is coming home in more ways than one.
The former Virginia guard is transferring to Carolina, where her mom, Joanne Aluka-White, is the associate head coach. The homecoming feels natural because the program has been an extension of home since Aluka-White joined the staff in 2019.
The three-time all-state selection at nearby Seaforth High School in Pittsboro made the announcement in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning: “They say there’s no place like home. …”
White is the fourth transfer-portal commitment Coach Courtney Banghart has secured, following pledges from Syracuse guard Sophie Burrows, Oklahoma State forward Achol Akot and Stanford guard Chloe Clardy. Three players from last season entered the transfer portal: Elina Aarnisalo, who committed to UCLA, Lanie Grant, who committed to TCU, and Taliyah Henderson, who hasn’t yet committed to a school.
If no other players leave, UNC is at the 15-player limit.
When Virginia prepared to host the Tar Heels in Charlottesville, White explained why she did not see UNC as a realistic destination when she was choosing a college program out of high school.
“When I was younger, I thought about it,” White said. “But as I got older, I was like, ‘I want to keep my home life, my relationship with my mom and coaching separate.’ I didn’t want that to mesh and potentially ruin the bond that we have.”
Now, after one season at Virginia and a coaching change in Charlottesville, White has evidently decided that she and her mom can make it work.
Before UNC’s 82–70 win at Virginia on Feb. 26, UVa’s Play4Kay game, a video was played on the big screen with White emotionally talking about her mom, who is battling breast cancer. White then gave her mom flowers, and they had a long, emotional embrace.
“Gabby has been impressive,” former Virginia coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said in early December. “She’s just so physical, explosive. Usually when first-years come in, everybody’s bigger, faster, stronger, but she doesn’t stick out in that way.”
Virginia fired Agugua-Hamilton on April 4, and hired former Richmond coach Aaron Roussell on April 7.
White entered the transfer portal on April 6 after playing 34 games with three starts, averaging 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15.5 minutes per game while shooting 44.3% from the floor.
She collected season highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in Virginia’s 109–103 triple-overtime win at Wake Forest for her only double-double, playing a season-high 38 minutes.
“It’s just been a learning experience,” White said of her first college season as the only freshman on the roster. “I came here not expecting a whole lot, just because we had a lot of transfers and returners. I just wanted to help the team the best I can, and throughout the season I’ve realized that being myself helps the team.”
She scored in double figures in seven other games, topped by her 15 points in the Cavaliers’ 76–64 loss at Virginia Tech on Feb.1. She dished out six assists three times last season.
Seaforth is the same school where UNC men’s player Jarin Stevenson played. She was a 2025 McDonald’s All-American nominee after collecting 1,975 points and 1,100 rebounds during her high school career.
In 2024, she was honored by the Chatham News & Record as Chatham County’s Girls Athlete of the Year in the same issue that Northwood’s Drake Powell got the boys honor.
White scored 15 points when her Seaforth team lost 48-39 to Salisbury in the 2023 state 2-A championship game at the Smith Center and was named her team’s Most Outstanding Player.
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Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant and Taliyah Henderson return, with years listed for next season (UNC is at the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | ||
| Sophomore | 5 | Liza Astakhova | W | 6–2 | |
| 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; 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 |
Photo via virginiasports.com
