Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
CHARLOTTE — North Carolina has plenty of talented newcomers, but one of the most versatile and experienced is forward Achol Akot, who is hungry for a memorable NCAA tournament run. From the four spot, the 6–1 Oklahoma State senior forward, who grew up in Canada, can mix it up inside and guard anyone on the court.
CHARLOTTE — Nyla Brooks showed during her sensational freshman season at Carolina that she’s not afraid to step into the spotlight in big moments, and is poised for a breakout season.
No. 15 North Carolina will have to wait until next Sunday to find out if Coach Courtney Banghart’s team has done enough to host early-round NCAA women’s tournament games. But the Tar Heels’ late-season surge has at least put them in the hosting conversation.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Scoring droughts that had been too common all season and the inability to hit the defensive boards down the stretch meant a sudden end to North Carolina’s season and a frustrating, painful finish to senior center Maria Gakdeng’s career.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Here is video and a complete transcript from North Carolina’s postgame press conference at Legacy Arena, with Coach Courtney Banghart, Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby, after the Tar Heels’ 47-38 loss to Duke on Friday in the Sweet 16. In addition, there’s a video of intereviews in the dressing room with Maria Gakdeng, Indya Nivar and Reniya Kelly.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Here is video and a full transcript as No. 3-seed North Carolina met with the media on Thursday ahead of its Friday Sweet 16 clash with No. 2-seed Duke. For the Tar Heels, it was Coach Courtney Banghart, Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly at the press conference. In addition, there’s video of dressing room interviews with Lexi Donarski, Indya Nivar, Maria Gakdeng, Lanie Grant & Grace Townsend.
CHAPEL HILL — The agonizing wait for five-star stretch-four Ciera Toomey is nearly over. Carolina’s Nov. 4 opener against Charleston Southern will come 592 days after Toomey led Dunmore High School to the 2023 Class 3A Pennsylvania state title. In between, there has been plenty of rehab, work and patience as the 6–4 former Miss Pennsylvania Basketball worked toward that day.
When Trayanna Crisp drives to the basket, she does it with a verve uncommon among guards in women’s college basketball. The 5–8 incoming junior, who will transfer to North Carolina after two seasons at Arizona State, is built like a linebacker and has similar strength and determination. Instead of getting to the quarterback, she’s getting to the rim.
CHAPEL HILL — It’s been clear from the start of the season that No. 24 Carolina has enough perimeter shooting to really flourish offensively if the Tar Heels can shoot consistently from outside the arc. Graduate transfer Lexi Donarski kick-started that with five of her six 3-pointers in the second half, as that shooting prowess produced a season-high 11 3-pointers. The Tar Heels led by 10 late and held on for an 82–76 win over Clemson in their ACC opener Sunday at Carmichael Arena.
Anybody who questions Deja Kelly’s toughness and dogged determination isn’t paying attention or is letting her off-the-court persona as “The Queen” mislead them. The 5–8 senior North Carolina guard — who embraces fashion, long fingernails and eyelashes, and beauty — is a relentless competitor who refuses to let physical challenges keep her off the court.
CHAPEL HILL — Anybody who thought that top-ranked South Carolina would roll into Chapel Hill and coast to victory didn’t know the character and resolve of No. 24 North Carolina. UNC has a history of giving the national power some of its toughest games, and that was the case again Thursday when the Tar Heels led by as many as 11 points in the first half. They battled admirably before losing 65–58 in the inaugural ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge before a loud and sold-out Carmichael Arena.
ESTERO, Fla. — Bad shooting finally caught up with No. 18 North Carolina on a day when that trend was almost as frustrating to the Tar Heels as the officiating and the frigid hockey arena.
ESTERO, Fla. — Carolina’s shooting was as cold as the hockey arena for most of Friday afternoon before shots finally fell and the No. 18 Tar Heels staged an amazing fourth-quarter comeback. The Tar Heels trailed by as many as 13 points but finished the game with a 20–6 run, taking the lead in the final two minutes on their way to a thrilling 54–51 victory over Vermont in the first round of the Gulf Coast Showcase at a chilly Hertz Arena.
North Carolina’s No. 16-ranked women’s basketball team faces the toughest of four non-conference home opponents to start the season on Sunday. But Davidson will also be playing on consecutive days, and must deal with the inside challenge of going up against junior Boston College transfer center Maria Gakdeng.
CHAPEL HILL — On the 30th anniversary season of North Carolina’s only women’s basketball national championship, the latest edition of the Tar Heels showed why they are a contender to earn a second one.
