University of North Carolina Athletics
Women’s Basketball Slotted No. 11 In Preseason AP Poll
October 14, 2025 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Less than three weeks remain until the 2025-26 college basketball season tips off, as the Associated Press has released its Preseason Women's Basketball poll with North Carolina coming in at No. 11 overall.
The Tar Heels begin the year with their highest preseason ranking since the 2009 season, where Carolina came in at No. 4 in the first edition of the poll.
Last year, Carolina rose to as high as No. 8 in the AP Poll and remained ranked throughout the entirety of the season. Recording 29 wins for the most in a single season in the Courtney Banghart era, the Tar Heels reached their 19th Sweet 16 in program history in 2024-25 for their second in the last four seasons.
Returning eight letterwinners and two starters, the Tar Heels head into year seven under Banghart with a loaded non-conference slate ahead. Carolina is set to challenge seven NCAA Tournament teams, including two who reached the Final Four.
Challenging a familiar foe in an exhibition matchup, Carolina takes on South Carolina in the Bad Boy Mowers Series – Atlanta on Oct. 30. Tickets for the 6 p.m. game vs. the Gamecocks remain available here. The exhibition game will not be televised, yet fans can listen to the Tar Heel Sports Network from Learfield and Matt Krause on 97.9 FM/1360 AM WCHL, the Varsity Network App or GoHeels.com/GoHeels.
Carolina kicks off the regular season on Nov. 3, hosting NC Central in its annual Field Trip Day from Carmichael Arena on ACCNX. This game will not be included in any season ticket packages and all admission to the public will be on a first come-first serve basis and complimentary.
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 o 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 AP Women's Basketball Poll
The Tar Heels begin the year with their highest preseason ranking since the 2009 season, where Carolina came in at No. 4 in the first edition of the poll.
Last year, Carolina rose to as high as No. 8 in the AP Poll and remained ranked throughout the entirety of the season. Recording 29 wins for the most in a single season in the Courtney Banghart era, the Tar Heels reached their 19th Sweet 16 in program history in 2024-25 for their second in the last four seasons.
Returning eight letterwinners and two starters, the Tar Heels head into year seven under Banghart with a loaded non-conference slate ahead. Carolina is set to challenge seven NCAA Tournament teams, including two who reached the Final Four.
Challenging a familiar foe in an exhibition matchup, Carolina takes on South Carolina in the Bad Boy Mowers Series – Atlanta on Oct. 30. Tickets for the 6 p.m. game vs. the Gamecocks remain available here. The exhibition game will not be televised, yet fans can listen to the Tar Heel Sports Network from Learfield and Matt Krause on 97.9 FM/1360 AM WCHL, the Varsity Network App or GoHeels.com/GoHeels.
Carolina kicks off the regular season on Nov. 3, hosting NC Central in its annual Field Trip Day from Carmichael Arena on ACCNX. This game will not be included in any season ticket packages and all admission to the public will be on a first come-first serve basis and complimentary.
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 o 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 AP Women's Basketball Poll
- UConn
- South Carolina
- UCLA*
- Texas*
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- Duke*
- Tennessee
- NC State*
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Michigan
- Iowa State
- Notre Dame*
- Baylor
- TCU
- USC
- Vanderbilt
- Louisville*
- Iowa
- Oklahoma State
- Michigan State
- Kentucky
- Richmond
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