The UNC women’s basketball program, particularly in recent seasons, is starting to show why it’s a destination for top high school recruits.
North Carolina landed 5-stars Blanca Thomas and Lanie Grant in its 2024 recruiting class, 5-star Cierra Toomey in its 2023 recruiting class, plus 5-star transfers Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar in that same 2023 class.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, better known as National Signing Day, the Tar Heels continued adding more top-end talent.
Taliyah Henderson and Nyla Brooks, a pair of 5-star small forwards and Taissa Queiroz, a 4-star small forward, all officially signed to play their college basketball in Chapel Hill.
Henderson is Arizona’s top-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class. According to her 247Sports recruiting profile, she chose UNC over the likes of Maryland, Ohio State and national power Tennessee.
Brooks is Virginia’s top-ranked 2025 prospect. According to her 247Sports recruiting profile, Brooks chose North Carolina over Maryland, Georgia and Tennessee. Brooks actually de-committed from Tennessee to choose the Tar Heels, a sign that something promising is happening in Chapel Hill.
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Taissa Queiroz plays her high school ball at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. Queiroz has spent time with the Brazil National Team, exposing herself to top talent from around the world.
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The Tar Heels roster will look significantly different during the 2025-2026 campaign, highlighting why their signing of Henderson, Brooks and Queiroz is ever-more important.
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Grace Townsend, Maria Gakdeng, Alyssa Ustby and Donarski, the latter three of whom are starters, will be out of eligibility. UNC has plenty other projected returners, highlighted by Toomey, Thomas, Trayanna Crisp and Reniya Kelly, but knowing they have more great incoming talent is a huge relief.
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