University of North Carolina Athletics
The Tar Heels make their 2023-24 debut on Wednesday night.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
WBB Set For Debut On Wednesday
November 7, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina women's basketball team that runs onto the Carmichael Arena court for warmups on Wednesday evening will look quite different than the one that last played in the NCAA Tournament back in March. Not only does the 2023-24 roster have eight new faces, but the familiar ones have some new and improved skill sets.
Tar Heel fans will see all of that on display Wednesday as UNC hosts Gardner-Webb for the season opener. Tipoff is 7 p.m. and tickets are available here.
Faculty, staff and students get in free with a UNC One Card. The first 500 students will get free t-shirts.
Wednesday kicks off head coach Courtney Banghart's fifth season at Carolina, and she's as excited to get started as she's ever been.
"We worked so hard for this roster, and these guys have worked so hard to mesh new talent with experience," Banghart said. "It's been a lot of ourselves and our practice guys, so now we have an opportunity to be on the same team. It doesn't get old with this excitement about seeing this new group start their competitive journey together and it's finally here."
Among the seven returners, all are contributors and three – seniors Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Anya Poole – started last season, with senior Alexandra Zelaya, redshirt sophomores Kayla McPherson and Teonni Key, and sophomore Paulina Paris all back with significant experience. Kelly and Ustby, the team captains, both were named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference team and are part of the Naismith Trophy Watch List.
Three of the newcomers are transfers: graduate student Lexi Donarski, junior Maria Gakdeng and sophomore Indya Nivar. Donarski, an experienced guard from Iowa State, was named to the ACC Newcomer Team. Gakdeng, previously at Boston College, has started two years in the ACC. Nivar, a North Carolia product, comes in after one year at Stanford.
Among the freshman group, two of them – Laila Hull and Ciera Toomey – will redshirt this season while rehabbing injuries, but three others – Sydney Barker, RyLee Grays and Reniya Kelly – are ready to go.
Banghart knows that fans are excited to get a glimpse of the newcomers on Wednesday, but she also can't wait to show off the progress of the returners.
"The last time fans saw us was in March and it's now November – for a college basketball player, that's a long time," Banghart said. "We're excited to be back with our people and for them to see the pieces that have gotten better, as well as the new pieces that are now part of our team."
Tar Heel fans will see all of that on display Wednesday as UNC hosts Gardner-Webb for the season opener. Tipoff is 7 p.m. and tickets are available here.
Faculty, staff and students get in free with a UNC One Card. The first 500 students will get free t-shirts.
Wednesday kicks off head coach Courtney Banghart's fifth season at Carolina, and she's as excited to get started as she's ever been.
"We worked so hard for this roster, and these guys have worked so hard to mesh new talent with experience," Banghart said. "It's been a lot of ourselves and our practice guys, so now we have an opportunity to be on the same team. It doesn't get old with this excitement about seeing this new group start their competitive journey together and it's finally here."
Among the seven returners, all are contributors and three – seniors Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Anya Poole – started last season, with senior Alexandra Zelaya, redshirt sophomores Kayla McPherson and Teonni Key, and sophomore Paulina Paris all back with significant experience. Kelly and Ustby, the team captains, both were named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference team and are part of the Naismith Trophy Watch List.
Three of the newcomers are transfers: graduate student Lexi Donarski, junior Maria Gakdeng and sophomore Indya Nivar. Donarski, an experienced guard from Iowa State, was named to the ACC Newcomer Team. Gakdeng, previously at Boston College, has started two years in the ACC. Nivar, a North Carolia product, comes in after one year at Stanford.
Among the freshman group, two of them – Laila Hull and Ciera Toomey – will redshirt this season while rehabbing injuries, but three others – Sydney Barker, RyLee Grays and Reniya Kelly – are ready to go.
Banghart knows that fans are excited to get a glimpse of the newcomers on Wednesday, but she also can't wait to show off the progress of the returners.
"The last time fans saw us was in March and it's now November – for a college basketball player, that's a long time," Banghart said. "We're excited to be back with our people and for them to see the pieces that have gotten better, as well as the new pieces that are now part of our team."
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