Covering Carolina sports beyond just men's basketball and football — with the most complete women's basketball coverage
CHAPEL HILL — Upon further review, the call was reversed. No, this wasn’t a referee overturning a call. Indya Nivar overturned her decision 17 months earlier as a senior five-star recruit at Apex Friendship High School, where she was Ms. North Carolina Basketball, state Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American.
UNC senior co-captains Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby made the Preseason All-ACC Team announced Thursday, with Iowa State transfer guard Lexi Donarski making the Newcomer Watch List.
CHARLOTTE — It wasn’t supposed to end like that. She refused to let it end like that. Guard Deja Kelly hurt her knee and got carried off the floor in the fourth quarter of Carolina’s second-round NCAA tournament in a game at Ohio State. She returned to the locker room, and most figured she wouldn’t return. But they don’t know Kelly’s passion and determination.
CHARLOTTE — Alyssa Ustby’s versatility on and off the court is comparable to any player in the country, and her motivational tools would make Michael Jordan proud.
Watch interviews in the breakout room at ACC Tipoff with senior co-captains Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby.
Watch UNC coach Courtney Banghart and senior co-captains Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby at their press conference Tuesday during ACC Tipoff in Charlotte.
The No. 16 Carolina women’s basketball team is scheduled to play two closed scrimmages in preparation for the Tar Heels’ Nov. 8 opener against Gardner-Webb, with one that promises to be a significant test.
North Carolina enters the season full of expectations of a potential Final Four run. The players have a sign next to the dressing room entrance that reads, “final four team loading …” But, judging from the AP women’s basketball Top 25 preseason poll released Tuesday, the Tar Heels still have some convincing to do with many voters.
CHAPEL HILL — Lexi Donarski, one of North Carolina’s six former five-star recruits, brings many qualities to Chapel Hill. A true two-way player, tenacious on defense with a diverse offensive skill set and a drive to get better, she also gives UNC “commas.”
CHAPEL HILL — Change was apparent all around Friday night at Live Action, as was the swagger of freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau. The annual preseason spotlight on UNC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Smith Center was all new to seven of Coach Hubert Davis’ players (five transfers and two freshmen) and eight of Coach Courtney Banghart’s players (three transfers and five freshmen).
CHAPEL HILL — What’s best for a player in the short term may not be best for the current team, but the latter has always been the priority in Coach Courtney Banghart’s women’s basketball program. After a tough, but correct decision, five-star stretch four Ciera Toomey and wing Laila Hull will redshirt this season.
CHAPEL HILL — The stars are aligned in more ways than one as Coach Courtney Banghart enters her fifth season as Carolina’s women’s basketball coach. A deep, talented roster with six players who were five-star recruits and five others who were four-star recruits has all the elements to contend for a national championship this year. With more talent on the way, her program has set a foundation to sustain long-term success.
Coach Courtney Banghart covered many topics Thursday at UNC’s women’s basketball media day. Also watch interviews with transfers Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar and part of Thursday’s practice.
Two highly touted members of Carolina’s five-player freshman class will redshirt this season. Five-star stretch forward Ciera Toomey (top photo), the No. 4 player in the Class of 2023, and wing Laila Hull (bottom photo), last season’s Miss Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana, won’t play while they continue to rehabilitate high school injuries.
“Remember me?” That was Coach Courtney Banghart’s text to Maria Gakdeng, the same the March day the 6–3 center entered the transfer portal. UNC’s coach didn’t hesitate at a second chance to lure the tenacious defender and rebounder who picked Boston College over the Tar Heels coming out of high school.
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