University of North Carolina Athletics
Stephanie Watts and the Tar Heels are looking toward the 2020-21 season.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Begin Again: Watts Ready For Final UNC Season
October 14, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – It's the first day of official practice for the North Carolina women's basketball team, and Stephanie Watts has been in this situation before. Four times, to be exact. But No. 5 is different.
"The biggest word I can think of is energy," said Watts, a graduate student guard for the Tar Heels. "When we walk in the gym everyone is ready to go, has the same mission, has the same mindset. I think everyone is just so excited for this year to start and there's a great energy in the team and the coaches and everyone coming together."
Although they've been working hard for months, the Tar Heels dive into the preseason for real on Wednesday, ramping up to start the 2020-21 schedule at the end of November. (Stay tuned for news on that soon.) In a team full of new faces, Watts stands out – she wasn't on last year's squad, but she's far from a newcomer.
"I definitely feel like a veteran," said Watts, who returned to Chapel Hill over the summer after spending last season at Southern California. "I try to be there any way possible for the young players, whether that's talking about drills or taking them through any defenses during practice or being a resource for them off the court, just letting them know I'm here for them."
A 5-11 guard and three-year starter for Carolina, Watts completed her undergraduate degree at UNC in May of 2019. Because she redshirted the 2017-18 season due to injury, she had one year of eligibility remaining, and she elected to spend that year at USC as a graduate student. But she played just four games in the 2019-20 season before knee surgery sidelined her for the rest of the year. She was granted an additional year of eligibility and decided to use that back at Carolina. After lots of hard work, she's fully rehabbed and ready to go.
"That's part of the reason I'm so excited for this season – I feel really good, really healthy," Watts said. "I thank the trainers and coaches for helping me get where I am. The coaches, especially Coach Banghart, have just been so helpful and understanding in helping me get my body ready for the season. I'm thankful for that."
Among this year's 12-player roster, only three suited up for the Tar Heels last season. Center Janelle Bailey earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2019-20 and is back and ready to show what she can do in her senior season. Sophomores Malu Tshitenge and Kennady Tucker gained valuable experience last year – both played in all 30 games and Tshitenge was in the starting lineup all season – and have continued to improve with an offseason of work. Forward Jaelynn Murray suffered a knee injury in the team's final exhibition game and missed the whole season, but is back and ready to go.
Five freshmen – Deja Kelly, Anya Poole, Kennedy Todd-Williams, Alyssa Ustby and Alexandra Zelaya – are new to the roster, along with two transfers: Petra Holešínská (a grad student from Illinois) and Ariel Young (a sophomore from Michigan who enrolled at UNC in January).
After getting to know the new Tar Heels, Watts is heading into her final year with extra excitement, but the same approach as always.
"I feel like I'm the type of player that doesn't take any season different than the last," Watts said. "Even as a freshman I just wanted to leave everything out there, because that's the type of player that I try to be. I try to bring energy and passion every single day – I play every season like it's my last. But this one actually is.
"It's meant so much to me to be back here, as a proud alum but also because UNC is my dream school. To be able to put the jersey on one last time just means so much to me. I just want to do everything I can to leave UNC on the best note I can for the people coming through in the future."
"The biggest word I can think of is energy," said Watts, a graduate student guard for the Tar Heels. "When we walk in the gym everyone is ready to go, has the same mission, has the same mindset. I think everyone is just so excited for this year to start and there's a great energy in the team and the coaches and everyone coming together."
Although they've been working hard for months, the Tar Heels dive into the preseason for real on Wednesday, ramping up to start the 2020-21 schedule at the end of November. (Stay tuned for news on that soon.) In a team full of new faces, Watts stands out – she wasn't on last year's squad, but she's far from a newcomer.
"I definitely feel like a veteran," said Watts, who returned to Chapel Hill over the summer after spending last season at Southern California. "I try to be there any way possible for the young players, whether that's talking about drills or taking them through any defenses during practice or being a resource for them off the court, just letting them know I'm here for them."
A 5-11 guard and three-year starter for Carolina, Watts completed her undergraduate degree at UNC in May of 2019. Because she redshirted the 2017-18 season due to injury, she had one year of eligibility remaining, and she elected to spend that year at USC as a graduate student. But she played just four games in the 2019-20 season before knee surgery sidelined her for the rest of the year. She was granted an additional year of eligibility and decided to use that back at Carolina. After lots of hard work, she's fully rehabbed and ready to go.
"That's part of the reason I'm so excited for this season – I feel really good, really healthy," Watts said. "I thank the trainers and coaches for helping me get where I am. The coaches, especially Coach Banghart, have just been so helpful and understanding in helping me get my body ready for the season. I'm thankful for that."
Among this year's 12-player roster, only three suited up for the Tar Heels last season. Center Janelle Bailey earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2019-20 and is back and ready to show what she can do in her senior season. Sophomores Malu Tshitenge and Kennady Tucker gained valuable experience last year – both played in all 30 games and Tshitenge was in the starting lineup all season – and have continued to improve with an offseason of work. Forward Jaelynn Murray suffered a knee injury in the team's final exhibition game and missed the whole season, but is back and ready to go.
Five freshmen – Deja Kelly, Anya Poole, Kennedy Todd-Williams, Alyssa Ustby and Alexandra Zelaya – are new to the roster, along with two transfers: Petra Holešínská (a grad student from Illinois) and Ariel Young (a sophomore from Michigan who enrolled at UNC in January).
After getting to know the new Tar Heels, Watts is heading into her final year with extra excitement, but the same approach as always.
"I feel like I'm the type of player that doesn't take any season different than the last," Watts said. "Even as a freshman I just wanted to leave everything out there, because that's the type of player that I try to be. I try to bring energy and passion every single day – I play every season like it's my last. But this one actually is.
"It's meant so much to me to be back here, as a proud alum but also because UNC is my dream school. To be able to put the jersey on one last time just means so much to me. I just want to do everything I can to leave UNC on the best note I can for the people coming through in the future."
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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