The “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast,” with hosts Britt Whitmire and R.L. Bynum, gives Tar Heel Tribune readers a conversational companion to the site’s written coverage of Carolina athletics with interviews, opinions and insights.
Category: Women’s basketball
Deja Kelly signs deal with Dallas Wings
Deja Kelly’s professional basketball journey has put her on a WNBA roster. The Dallas Wings signed the former UNC and Oregon guard to a developmental player contract, the team announced Tuesday. She hasn’t been in the WNBA since being cut in the 2025 preseason by the Las Vegas Aces. Kelly has signed to play for Panthers WBC Kavala in Greece this fall.
Clardy’s old connection with Banghart led her to UNC
CHAPEL HILL — Even if a player doesn’t commit to Carolina out of high school, the relationship built with Coach Courtney Banghart can still leave a lasting impression. That was the case for Chloe Clardy, who didn’t even have UNC among her final three schools as a four-star recruit. She scored more than 2,500 career points, led Conway to an Arkansas 6A state title and twice won the Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year honor.
Former UNC center Gakdeng signs with WNBA’s Toronto Tempo
Former North Carolina center Maria Gakdeng signed a player-development contract with the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo on Saturday.
Five-star Harpring brings toughness, versatility, and her dad’s grit to UNC
CHAPEL HILL — Kate Harpring arrived at Carolina with the sort of lofty expectations that come with being at the top of your freshman class nationally. The talented 5–10 guard will be a star on a veteran team that comes off back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, and Coach Courtney Banghart quickly declared her probably the fastest player on the team.
UNC launches official liquor line ahead of football home opener
Tar Heels fans have long known how to celebrate a win, a rivalry, and pretty much anything involving the color Carolina blue. Now, for the first time, they can toast to it with something that shows their school spirit via official spirits. UNC Athletics has teamed up with North Carolina-based Cape Fear Distillery to launch the Spirit of Carolina Collection, the university’s first officially licensed line of Tar Heels-branded spirits.
Positionless and proven: With deep backcourt, UNC women set sights on deep NCAA run
CHAPEL HILL — If there is a byword as North Carolina enters a women’s basketball season flush with talent and high expectations, it’s flexibility. Coach Courtney Banghart’s eighth Tar Heel team has plenty of lead guards after depending heavily last season on Elena Aarnisalo, who has returned to UCLA. Banghart said the shift reflects both a broader evolution in the sport and a specific need she identified when Aarnisalo carried much of the offensive burden down the stretch a year ago.
UNC women open ACC play on Dec. 13 at home against N.C. State
North Carolina navigates a trip to Paris, cross-country trips, and a loaded non-conference gauntlet in its women’s basketball schedule this season which was revealed in full on Wednesday. The Tar Heels, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, have eight games against teams ranked in last season’s final Top 25.
Deja Kelly earns playoff MVP award, leads Charlotte to league title
Former UNC and Oregon standout Deja Kelly delivered the signature performance of her professional career and a championship. Kelly scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Charlotte Crown to an 81–76 comeback win over the Jacksonville Waves in the inaugural Upshot League championship game Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
UNC’s non-conference women’s schedule includes four SEC teams and one Big 12 team
North Carolina women’s basketball released its non-conference schedule for 2026-27, and it includes nine opponents visiting Carmichael Arena along with a schedule of high-profile road tests to open the season.
UNC’s defense was best in ACC last season, but Banghart says it can be better, more aggressive
Any team that had to contend with North Carolina’s torrid defense last season should be warned. Coach Courtney Banghart says that her reconstructed roster should be better on defense.
UNC women will play two games at Disney World in November
North Carolina’s women’s basketball team will head to Walt Disney World for a pair of games the week before Thanksgiving.
Deja Kelly’s WNBA goal within reach as her game evolves
GREENSBORO — Deja Kelly has played many times at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, but on Thursday she was in front of many screaming kids on camp day in the more intimate Novant Health Fieldhouse. “I feel good,” she said after her Charlotte Crown’s 85–75 victory over the Greensboro Groove. “It’s good to be out here playing. Good to be back in the state of North Carolina, so that’s always fun. This is a great league. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Atlanta Dream waive, then re-sign Nivar
A day after the Atlanta Dream waived rookie guard Indya Nivar, the team signed her to a developmental contract to bring her back on their roster.
Versatile Ustby star in Italy, although language creates challenges
Alyssa Ustby’s rookie pro season in Italy began with grocery adventures and ended with a new chapter in a career built on grit, consistent training habits and a willingness to try anything. Fans marveled at the versatility of the most prolific rebounder in UNC program history, and she showed more of it in the Serie A league, returning to her high school roots as a point guard.