GoHeels Exclusive: A Basketball-Filled Offseason

By Joe Wedra, UNC Athletic Communications Assistant

If Leah Church wasn't already viewed as one of Carolina's hardest-working student-athletes, this summer secured her spot near the top of the list.

The women's basketball standout saw her first game action last year, most notably in a breakout performance at home against Duke in which she took control from behind the three-point line and scored a season-high 19 points courtesy of five triples from distance. That's when she truly made her presence felt on the Carolina scene – now, courtesy of an offseason full of unique preparation, she appears ready to potentially take another step forward in the 2018-19 season.

In July, Church took a trip to Brazil for the FISU America Games in Sao Paulo to represent the United States under coach Jane Albright, the former head coach at Wisconsin and Nevada. Led by Athletes in Action, a Christian-centered sports organization, the trip was the perfect balance for Church, whose faith plays a big role in her life both on and off the court.

"Coach Hatchell was incredibly supportive about the opportunity and encouraged me to go for it… They needed a guard, and she knew that with this type of trip, I'd be a good fit for it," Church said.

"I knew that with Athletes in Action, there would be an opportunity to serve and share my faith. That was a big factor too in this trip. I wanted to compete for a gold medal, but I also wanted to get down there and share my faith. I think that's the most important thing that can make the most difference for a long time, so that was a huge influence."

Once Church and the rest of the team arrived in Brazil, it became a dream trip that allowed her to take advantage of not only a unique summer opportunity, but one that tested her on the court and forced her to improvise her game.

The North Carolina native knew she'd be presented with new opportunities in Brazil, however it wasn't clear just how different the games would be until she actually arrived.

"It was funny because when we first hit the court, I noticed the three-point line was about two feet farther than even the college one," she said with a laugh. "I was like okay, I looked at my teammates and said 'Well, I guess we're going to be shooting some NBA threes". We didn't really even know that. The lane was two feet wider, and just the dimensions were different."

But as unusual as those dimensions might have been, it didn't stop her and Team USA from rolling through the tournament and bringing home what they went for – a gold medal. The team went undefeated with the help of Church's leadership, knocked off Chile and Brazil in the semifinal and championship, respectively, to claim the top spot.

Church's ultimate goal to share her faith and play competitive basketball was realized, and it gave her the spotlight – one she would happily deflect – that she had earned back in January in Carolina's 92-86 win over the Blue Devils.

She called that game one of the most rewarding experiences that she had ever been a part of. For a lifelong Carolina fan, knocking off Duke – and in the fashion in which she contributed – was a dream come true. It was an emotion-filled day that will always go down as one of the most memorable of her life.

It was a special day back in January, but it also acted as a springboard for a very bright future during the rest of her time with the Tar Heels. After that performance, the then-freshman saw a significant uptick in playing time, including 25 minutes in two of the final three games of the year against Duke and NC State.

As she continues to earn the trust of her coaches, Church is doing what she does best – working tirelessly both on and off the court to perfect her game and, most importantly for her long-term goals, becoming a better teammate.

"I've definitely focused on things that I want to get better," Church said about this offseason. "My coaches have suggested things to work on, so I've done that. I also went to Point Guard College this offseason. They develop point guard play but also leadership and decision-making on the court. They fine-tune things, so that plus the Brazil trip opportunity, it's kind of been a basketball-filled offseason."

To be sure, there's no other way she'd rather spend her time off.

Now, as this season approaches, there's optimism throughout the Carolina women's basketball locker room. With new additions expected to make real impacts for Hatchell's team, there's a quiet confidence that is beginning to build.

A productive offseason now behind her, Church thinks she and the rest of the team might be ready to surprise once the year officially tips off in November.

"We've got a ton of potential with leaders coming back," she said. "We're going to be healthier, so I think we can make a deep run. We're working really hard at that and we believe in each other. Our goal is to have a great season and to go far into March, maybe into that first week in April."

Players Mentioned

Leah Church

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