After years leading the UNC women’s basketball program alongside Deja Kelly, it’s now time for Alyssa Ustby to step up and be the captain we all known she can be.
Ustby was a double-double machine for the Tar Heels last year, recording 16 across 33 games. Ustby ended her senior year with 12.5 points and a career-best 12.5 points per game.
When Ustby announced her return for a fifth and final year, North Carolina immediately became an ACC favorite.
Ustby herself is also a favorite to earn a prestigious honor in women’s basketball, as she was recently named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.
Ustby is one of 20 nominees for the Cheryl Miller Award – and one of just three from the ACC, joining NC State’s Madison Hayes and Boston College’s Andrea Daley.
Cheryl Miller is arguably one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. She was named Naismith National Player of the Year three times in college, then led USA to Olympic Gold in 1984.
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I’m not saying Ustby is the main reason for UNC’s on-court success, but she plays a major role in it. North Carolina has made the past four NCAA Tournaments – all with Ustby on the roster – with its deepest run to the 2022 Sweet 16.
While Ustby was counted on for most of the Tar Heels’ rebounding production two seasons ago, she got some much-needed help from Maria Gakdeng in the transfer portal last year. Gakdeng will return and form a formidable post duo with Ustby this coming season, which starts on Monday, Nov. 4 against Charleston Southern.
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