University of North Carolina Athletics
Watts will be back in Carmichael for the 2020-21 season.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Tar Heels Welcome Watts Back To Chapel Hill
June 29, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A familiar face will return to the UNC women's basketball roster for the 2020-21 season as Stephanie Watts suits up in a Tar Heel uniform for her final season of collegiate eligibility.
Watts, a 5-11 guard and three-year starter for Carolina, 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. She spent last year at Southern California as a graduate student, but saw her season ended by knee surgery after just four games. Now healthy and granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA, she'll be back in Carmichael Arena this fall.
"Due to an injury this past season I was given back a year of eligibility," Watts said. "While the injury was disappointing, I like to believe that everything happens for a reason. When thinking about my last season of college basketball coming up, it just didn't feel right spending it anywhere other than my alma mater. With that being said, I am overjoyed to announce I will be coming home to play my final season at UNC."
Watts, from Wesley Chapel, N.C., was the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and setting a UNC freshman record for three-pointers made with 76. She continued that success as a sophomore, starting every game and setting an ACC record for three-pointers in a game with 10 in a 39-point performance against Charleston Southern. She missed the 2017-18 season due to injury and returned to the court in 2018-19, again leading the team in threes and passing the 1,000-career-points mark.
After completing her bachelor's degree in public policy, she went to USC as a graduate transfer. There she played in the Trojans' first four games, starting two, before being sidelined by a knee injury that required surgery. She will complete her master's degree in entrepreneurship and innovation from USC in August and will pursue additional graduate work at UNC.
"We are very excited to welcome Stephanie Watts back to the University of North Carolina," said UNC coach Courtney Banghart, who is heading into her second season with the Tar Heels and will coach Watts for the first time. "A former ACC Rookie of the Year and a proven contributor as a Tar Heel, we are adding talent, experience, shot-making, and depth to our guard position. The fact that Steph wanted to come back to finish her playing career in Carolina Blue speaks volumes to her love for and trust in this place and program. We are eager to coach her, just as the Carolina community looks forward to welcoming her back home."
"UNC is home for me and I'm excited to have the opportunity to play for Coach Banghart and be back wearing Carolina Blue," Watts said. "A special thanks to Coach Banghart and the entire staff for making this happen."
Watts, a 5-11 guard and three-year starter for Carolina, 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. She spent last year at Southern California as a graduate student, but saw her season ended by knee surgery after just four games. Now healthy and granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA, she'll be back in Carmichael Arena this fall.
"Due to an injury this past season I was given back a year of eligibility," Watts said. "While the injury was disappointing, I like to believe that everything happens for a reason. When thinking about my last season of college basketball coming up, it just didn't feel right spending it anywhere other than my alma mater. With that being said, I am overjoyed to announce I will be coming home to play my final season at UNC."
She's back! 🏀💙 We're thrilled to welcome home @swatts15!
🔗https://t.co/67osUcIDRH#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/K9tf8ROmnL
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) June 29, 2020
Watts, from Wesley Chapel, N.C., was the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and setting a UNC freshman record for three-pointers made with 76. She continued that success as a sophomore, starting every game and setting an ACC record for three-pointers in a game with 10 in a 39-point performance against Charleston Southern. She missed the 2017-18 season due to injury and returned to the court in 2018-19, again leading the team in threes and passing the 1,000-career-points mark.
After completing her bachelor's degree in public policy, she went to USC as a graduate transfer. There she played in the Trojans' first four games, starting two, before being sidelined by a knee injury that required surgery. She will complete her master's degree in entrepreneurship and innovation from USC in August and will pursue additional graduate work at UNC.
"We are very excited to welcome Stephanie Watts back to the University of North Carolina," said UNC coach Courtney Banghart, who is heading into her second season with the Tar Heels and will coach Watts for the first time. "A former ACC Rookie of the Year and a proven contributor as a Tar Heel, we are adding talent, experience, shot-making, and depth to our guard position. The fact that Steph wanted to come back to finish her playing career in Carolina Blue speaks volumes to her love for and trust in this place and program. We are eager to coach her, just as the Carolina community looks forward to welcoming her back home."
"UNC is home for me and I'm excited to have the opportunity to play for Coach Banghart and be back wearing Carolina Blue," Watts said. "A special thanks to Coach Banghart and the entire staff for making this happen."
Players Mentioned
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