UNC in consecutive preseason women’s Top 25 polls for the first time in 8 years, but lower than expected

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.

Banghart focused on process for her talented team, not national title talk

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.

Future Tar Heel Grant overcomes sickness, helps U.S. U16 team roll to third victory

The United States team rolled into the medal round with three blowout victories at the FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship, and future Tar Heel Lanie Grant returned for Thursday’s win over Mexico after missing a game. After Grant scored 12 points in the Americans’ 124–39 Tuesday victory over Puerto Rico, she was one of several players from other teams, all staying at the same hotel in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, who started feeling sick.

Hull, an incoming UNC freshman, earns MVP honors with another double-double, 22 points in the Indiana All-Stars’ victory

For the second consecutive night, the star power of incoming Carolina freshman wing Laila Hull was on full display as her Indiana All-Stars faced a team of Kentucky All-Stars again. Hull scored a couple of huge buckets in the last two minutes Saturday and earned MVP honors with a second consecutive double-double to lead Indiana to a 71–67 victory in Indianapolis to avenge a loss one night earlier.