Reniya Kelly Named Preseason All-ACC, Nyla Brooks Preseason All-Freshman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Awards, North Carolina women's basketball is predicted to finish third in the league with Reniya Kelly named Preseason All-ACC and Nyla Brooks Preseason All-Freshman. The league's predicted order and pre-season teams are determined by ACC coaches and media.

After finishing in a tie for fourth last season in the ACC and reaching the Sweet 16, the Tar Heels return eight letterwinners from a 29-win squad. Despite losses due to graduation, Carolina bolstered its roster with the additions of Elina Aarnisalo from UCLA and Nyla Harris from Louisville. Youth is abundant, as UNC welcomes four freshmen including three ranked in ESPN's top-75 for the Class of 2025.

Coming off a showstopping sophomore season which resulted in her earning All-ACC Second Team honors, Kelly picked up a spot on the Preseason All-ACC squad. The Hoover, Ala., native averaged 11.4 points per game in ACC action and drained 41.2% of her shots from beyond the arc. Her percentage from three ranked No. 4 in a season at Carolina as she knocked down 40 triples. Lighting it up against NC State in Carmichael, Kelly scored a career-high 23 points in the win and was the only Tar Heel to post back-to-back 20-point outings last season.

Carolina has had a Tar Heel earn a spot on the Preseason All-ACC team in each of the last four seasons.

After being honored as one of ESPN's Impact Freshmen last week, Brooks also earned herself a spot on the Preseason ACC All-Freshman squad. A McDonald's All-American out of Waldorf, Md., Brooks continues to generate buzz heading into her debut campaign. The reigning Gatorade Virginia Girls Basketball player of the year, Brooks comes to Chapel Hill touted as the No. 13 overall prospect in the Class of 2025 by ESPN.

Brooks is the first UNC freshman to be named Preseason ACC All-Freshman since 2021.

Season tickets for the 2025-26 season remain on sale, For more information regarding tickets, visit goheels.com/tickets or reach out to the UNC Athletic Ticket Office at 919-926-2296 or tickets@unc.edu.

Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.

Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame

Preseason All-ACC Team (First-place votes – 70 voters)
Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., G, Notre Dame 833 (56 first-place votes)
Zoe Brooks, Jr., G, NC State 606 (3)
Kymora Johnson, Jr., G, Virginia 577 (1)
Toby Fournier, So., F, Duke 535 (4)
Ashlon Jackson, Sr., G, Duke 333 (1)
Tajianna Roberts, So., G, Louisville 326 (3)
Khamil Pierre, Sr., F, NC State 285
Reniya Kelly, Sr., G, North Carolina 276
Nunu Agara, Jr., F, Stanford 275
Laura Ziegler, Sr., F, Louisville 78

Sa'Myah Smith (Virginia), Carleigh Wenzel (Virginia Tech) each received one first-place vote.

Preseason All-Freshman Team
Emilee Skinner, G, Duke 415
Hailee Swain, G, Stanford 324
Nyla Brooks, G, North Carolina 310
Lara Somfai, F, Stanford 185
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris, G, California 114
Leah Macy, F, Notre Dame 79

Predicted Order of Finish (70 voters)

Duke (40), 1525
NC State (25), 1487
North Carolina (1), 1374
Louisville (2), 1276
Notre Dame (2), 1255
Stanford, 1041
Virginia, 987
Miami, 889
Florida State, 857
Virginia Tech, 813
Clemson, 738
California, 669
Syracuse, 540
SMU, 483
Georgia Tech, 447
Pitt, 299
Boston College, 211
Wake Forest, 157

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Reniya Kelly Named Preseason All-ACC, Nyla Brooks Preseason All-Freshman

Players Mentioned

Elina Aarnisalo

Nyla Brooks

Nyla Harris

Reniya Kelly

Related Videos