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
The most anticipated UNC women’s basketball season in years is finally about to start. With six former five-star recruits and five former four-star recruits on a roster that includes a mix of youth and experience, Coach Courtney Banghart has laid out plenty of challenges in non-conference play.
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.
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.
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 — 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.
No. 2-ranked North Carolina couldn’t create enough quality chances, but the Tar Heels’ defense and goalkeeping stood tall in an opening-game 0–0 draw against No. 10 Penn State at State College, Pa., on a soggy field. While the Tar Heels held a 19–5 shot advantage, they only got two shots on goal compared to three for Penn State.
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.
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.
Incoming UNC freshman Laila Hull’s ability to pour on the offense was on full display in the second half on Friday night at the first of two games in the Indiana All-Star series against Kentucky in Owensboro, Ky., putting up a double-double.
Coach Courtney Banghart’s fifth North Carolina team will be her deepest and most talented. That will create plenty of competition for playing time and many more options at her disposal — with the transfer portal still packed with available players.
By R.L. Bynum Along with the high expectations for North Carolina’s women’s basketball team will come an upgrade in the … More
