Bonding Goes Beyond Basketball For WBB

CHAPEL HILL – Although the UNC women's basketball team spends plenty of time on basketball and adjacent skills, the Tar Heels have been known to stray from the Carmichael court. For instance, to the pickleball court.

No matter the court, we come to play 😤#GoHeels | #InPursuit | #Pickleball pic.twitter.com/mODQqfve4N — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 19, 2023

Pickleball is just one of the activities the Tar Heels have tackled together since the end of last season, but it may have been the most hotly contested. On an August day at the end of summer training, the Tar Heels met on the courts on south campus, ready to compete. Two-person teams were randomly assigned, and the tournament started with a quick rules explanation from General Manager Liz Roberts, who admits she's got it bad for pickle ball. Then the players jumped in, with three courts in play.

It's fair to say the Tar Heels (and some staff members) did not take the competition lightly. And this, observers will notice, is a trend.

"People stayed competitive," sophomore Paulina Paris said. "Especially in water polo."

Passing and shooting ... just a little different 💦 Thanks to @uncswimdive for helping us switch up our summer conditioning! 🏀➡️🤽‍♀️#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/fOZwKhTxxV — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) July 25, 2023

Yes, the Tar Heels also played water polo. And wiffle ball. They traveled to Charlotte for white-water rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. And don't forget the axe throwing.

"There's nothing we could do that wouldn't be competitive," freshman Sydney Barker said. "But it's a different setting so you have to find other ways to work with people, which has really brought us together."

And that – in addition to the fun, of course – is the reason coach Courtney Banghart put her team in different situations all summer and into the fall. Summer lays the foundation for the season, on and off the court. While most of the players are taking summer classes, they're also training together, living together, eating together and, from time to time, rafting together. Along the way, you see players' competitive fire when they refuse to lose at pickleball, the bravery required to conquer a fear and go off the high dive, and the teamwork required to keep everyone (mostly) in the boat while rafting.

"I'm so proud of how this group has attacked the many opportunities here at Carolina," Banghart said. "They built a great foundation to their academic routine and then athletically, we hit the ground running. We built critical habits on the floor and made solid gains in the sport performance space. This group really came together as a unit, too."

That aspect is particularly important heading into this season, since more than half the team is new. The seven players returning from last year's squad have been joined by eight new faces: three transfers and five freshmen. So those 15 spent a lot of time together all summer long, both in the activities organized by the coaching staff and also just chilling together.

A different look for summer ball ... with your host, K-Mic 🎤😉#GoHeels | #InPursuit | @KaylaMcPherso20 pic.twitter.com/XIQZZNtGfE — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 14, 2023

"It really helped us learn more about each other personality-wise," said Maria Gakdeng, a junior and one of the transfers. "Getting to know each other outside of basketball as people was really fun, and I don't feel as much like a newcomer anymore."

With less than a month to go until the season starts, the Tar Heels are looking forward to seeing those chemistry lessons pay off on the court. The things they've learned about and from each other by spending time together outside of their collective comfort zone can only help them as the season heats up.

"I love who this group has become," Banghart said. "It was an intentional summer and hopefully the start to something really special this season."

Of all our team adventures this summer, only one required helmets 😮💦#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/pJ62ye2gP0 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 16, 2023

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Sydney Barker

Maria Gakdeng

Paulina Paris

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