Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Basketball

Tar Heels name Liz Roberts as new special assistant for the women’s basketball team

The North Carolina women’s basketball team name Liz Roberts as the new general manager / special assistant to Courtney Banghart.

Former UNC women’s basketball player [autotag]Liz Roberts[/autotag] will be sticking around Chapel Hill as it was announced she was named the general manager / special assistant to Courtney Banghart.

The announcement came last week, with the program taking to social media to share with fans the exciting news. For the last two years, Roberts was the director of recruiting management and student-athlete engagement for the team, gaining significant experience after her playing days.
Roberts played at UNC from 2016 to 2020 and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in her first three years.

The Tar Heels has started to pick up significant buzz as Banghart continues to shape the culture of Carmichael Arena. This upcoming season UNC has already landed on some top 10 lists, with plenty believing the Tar Heels can make some noise this year.

After a strong off-season of recruiting, UNC will be in a good spot for the next few years.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Twitter reacts to UNC’s ACC vs. SEC matchup

Twitter reacts to UNC men’s and women’s basketball ACC vs. SEC matchups.

The North Carolina men’s basketball team will play host to Tennessee in the first season of the ACC-SEC Challenge, while the women’s basketball program opens its doors for a game against South Carolina. Both matchups have already caused quite a reaction on Twitter.

The men’s team will welcome the Volunteers into Dean E. Smith Center on Nov. 29, 2023. A day later, the women’s basketball team will host the Gamecocks. Both are prime matches that will play a role in seeding come March Madness.

Both teams enter the upcoming season with a new-look roster after the damage done by the transfer portal. The men’s team will be without arguably their most impactful player of the last few seasons, Caleb Love, and the women’s program lost its second-best scoring option, Kennedy Todd-Williams.

Despite the losses, both teams’ additions make them a threat to cut down the nets at the end of the year. Picking up a win against two top SEC schools can boost confidence and seeding when it is time.

Unsurprisingly, fans had opinions about the game announcements, their excitement and what it means for the school in the future.

Let us look at how Twitter reacted to ACC-SEC matchups.

UNC women’s basketball offers scholarships to three top recruits

Courtney Banghart offers scholarships to three top 2026 recruits as she continues to build for the future.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program is heavy at work building for the future as they have offered three top ten recruits from the 2026 class.

Courtney Banghart and staff offered 15-year-olds McKenna Woliczko, Trinity Jones, and Jacy Abii. The highest recruit out of the three is Woliczko, who ranks 4th on the ESPN 2026 class list, followed by Jones, 6th, and Abii, 9th.

Woliczko, a part of the 2023 FIBA U16 women’s basketball team, is an ideal fit for UNC. The 6’2 forward has averaged 11.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in six games. Her best game came in the semifinals against Argentina, where she finished with her tournament high 24 points and tacked on 13 rebounds.

Jones has also made her mark on the 2023 FIBA U16 women’s basketball team, averaging 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds. Her best performance came in the group round against Puerto Rico, where the 6’1 guard finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, going 8 for 9 in field goals.

Lastly, Abii has displayed good court vision and the ability to score during her time on the 2023 FIBA U16 women’s basketball team. The 6’1 guard averaged 8.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in the tournament. Abii’s best game in the group round against Colombia was 13 points and 7 rebounds.

All three would be a massive get for UNC’s women’s basketball program, continuing to build the culture through the strong recruiting from Banghart.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC commit Lanie Grant continues to shines in win over Argentina

UNC’s five-star commit Lanie Grant continues to shine for the U.S. U16 team, dropping 20 points in the 112-48 win over Argentina.

North Carolina women’s basketball commit Lanie Grant continues to shine for the USA Basketball U16 team, dropping 20 points in a 112-48 win over Argentina.

Grant and the U16 team have shown complete dominance on their path to the championship, winning 23 consecutive games as they hope to win their fourth straight gold medal. Grant has been extraordinary, with her scoring fully displayed in the blowout win over Argentina.

The 5-foot-9 five-star recruit from the 2025 class finished with 20 points, shooting six for nine from the field. This comes a game after where Grant delivered six assists in the 106-34 win over the Dominican Republic.

From James River high school out of Midlothian, Virginia, Grant is the ideal point guard for UNC and has shown her ability to pass and score throughout her journey with the US16 team. Courtney Banghart and staff must love what they see from the future Tar Heel.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC women’s basketball set to play in Gulf Coast Showcase

The North Carolina women’s basketball program reportedly will face off against Iowa’s Caitlin Clark this season.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program will play some notable names this season, being one of the eight teams participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase.

It is reported that UNC will be one of the eight teams to play in this showcase, along with Kansas State and Iowa, with women’s basketball star sensation Caitlin Clark. The rest of the field has yet to be announced but wins over Kansas, and Iowa would significantly boost tournament placement come March Madness.

The Tar Heels’ schedule already featured some fantastic teams, especially considering how stacked the Atlantic Coastal Conference will be this year. Factor in the recent announcement of UNC playing UCONN in the Basketball Hall of Fame women’s showcase, and the Tar Heels will have a handful of tuneup games to prepare for a championship run.

On the early top 25 list, UNC cracks the top 10, and the rest of the games should determine if UNC is ready for the big stage.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC women’s basketball cracks the top 10 in way too early top 25

The North Carolina women’s basketball program cracks the top 10 in way too early top 25.

Women’s college basketball saw significant movement this offseason with another very active transfer portal that saw rosters get shaken up a little bit as we head into the summer months. And while we still have months to go before a new season, it’s nice to see where analysts think teams stack up.

Despite the stacked competition, UNC found themselves cracking the top 10 in the way too early top 25 released by Mitchell Northam.

The Tar Heels rank ninth on the list, one of the two Atlantic Coastal Conference teams to crack the top 10, with Virginia Tech ranking fifth. Unsurprisingly, the defending champion LSU takes the throne, especially when you factor in the Tigers snagging the fiery Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith.

The biggest surprise on the list is South Carolina’s placement, which sits just one slot above UNC.

Regarding UNC’s ranking, the judgment was clear on why they ranked No. 9 and the expectations for this season. According to Northam, much of the ranking placement is due to the new additions.

Losing Kennedy Todd-Williams was a bummer for the Tar Heels, but Courtney Banghart regrouped quickly and made this UNC roster better for the future. The additions include Iowa State sharpshooter Lexi Donarksi (who is also a former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year), young and athletic Stanford guard Indya Nivar and 6-foot-4 shot-blocker Maria Gakdeng from Boston College. Pairing those transfers with veterans Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Anya Poole – and No. 4 overall recruit Cierra Toomey – should make the Tar Heels contenders in the ACC.

The women’s basketball program team chemistry has grown every year under Courtney Banghart, and with the new talent coming in, it could be a massive year for the team.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. 

Ciera Toomey named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball

Incoming UNC five-star freshman Ciera Toomey named Miss Pennsylvania.

Incoming UNC five-star freshman [autotag]Ciera Toomey[/autotag] has been named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball for 2023.

The five-star recruit out of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, adds the title of Miss Pennsylvania to her long list of accolades, recently named the Player of the Year in Class 3A. In a story picked up by Yahoo News, Toomey explained why being named Miss Pennsylvania meant a lot to her.

“This is definitely at the top of the list because winning the player of the year in 3A, that’s only for one class. To get something like this where all girls in the state are nominated, it just means a lot.”

Toomey is one of the most exciting recruits in the nation, ranking 4th in the espnW 2023 HoopGurlz recruiting rankings. Toomey joins a thriving UNC program, who has built a new identity after Courtney Banghart.

Toomey will likely see the court a lot in her freshman campaign and is expected to be a key contributor for years to come.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Four-star forward Ella Hobbs to announce her commitment June 11th

Four-star forward Ella Hobbs set to announce her commitment next month.

All eyes are on four-star forward [autotag]Ella Hobbs[/autotag], who will announce her commitment next month.

The dominoes continue to fall for Courtney Banghart, as recruiting is becoming a strength for the North Carolina women’s basketball program. On June 11th, Hobbs will announce which school will be her next home, choosing between Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Virginia Tech, and UNC.

The four-star from the 2024 class is out of Concord NC, repping Jay M. Robinson High School. Hobbs had spent the first few years playing at 1 of 1 Prep Academy before announcing her decision to play her senior season at Robinson High School. In the two years at Prep Academy, Hobbs averaged 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.

Hobbs, known for her sharpshooting will be the ideal piece to Banghart’s puzzle. Hobbs averaged 56% from the field, shooting 85% from the free throw line.

If Hobbs commits to UNC, it will be the third 2024 class committee, joining five-star Blanca Thomas and four-star Jordan Zubich. Hobbs will announce her decision on June 11th, at noon from the Jay M. Robinson High School gymnasium.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Paulina Paris, Alyssa Ustby and Alexandra Zelaya named to All-ACC Academic Team

North Carolina’s Paulina Paris, Alyssa Ustby, and Alexandra Zelaya were named to All-ACC Academic Team.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program is well represented on the the All-ACC Academic team for the 2022-23 year. The conference announced last week that Paulina Paris, Alyssa Ustby, and Alexandra Zelaya received the honors.

This honor marks Ustby’s third time in a row making the All-ACC Academic team.  Meanwhile, Paris and Zelaya received recognition for the first time in their career.

In addition to the three current Tar Heels on the list, former UNC wing Kennedy Todd-Williams also received recognition as she has found a new home in the transfer portal. Todd-Williams announced she is transferring to Ole Miss but did make the All-ACC Academic team for her time at North Carolina.

All three Tar Heels should have a significant impact on the upcoming season. Ustby led the team in rebounding (233). Paris had a breakout freshman year, displaying her scoring abilities throughout the season, including a 22-point performance against Clemson, eventually earning her ACC Rookie of the Week. Finally, Zelaya, who’s been with the program the last three seasons, earned her first start this season and would go on to start two more games, becoming a contributor when called on.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program continues to build its culture on and off the court, leading by example for the incoming players.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcv0v20j1dne5g player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earn All-America honorable mention

North Carolina Tar Heels Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earn All-America honorable mentions.

North Carolina women’s basketball players [autotag]Deja Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Alyssa Ustby[/autotag] have been named honorable mentions for All-America. Both Tar Heels were pivotal in UNC’s success this season and rightfully have received high praise for their play this season.

Kelly was North Carolina’s top scorer, tying her career high for points averaged in a season with 16.5 per game. This is Kelly’s second straight year receiving this honorable mention showcasing another consistent season.

On the other hand, Ustby was the team leader in rebounds, averaging 8.3 rebounds. Despite missing five games, Ustby finished with 233 total rebounds, 45 more than the next Tar Heel.

The North Carolina women’s basketball season might not have ended as they had hoped. However, they were still welcomed with applause for a hard-fought season, with a lot of credit going to Kelly and Ustby.

Both Tar Heels will be back in Chapel Hill next season, pending any last-minute changes, and should be a shoe for the award in 2023-2024.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.