University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Women’s Basketball Rolls Out 2026-27 Roster
June 1, 2026 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Coming off its second straight Sweet 16, North Carolina women's basketball is primed for its next great team with the announcement of the 2026-27 roster. Carolina brings back nine Tar Heels from last season, while also adding one of the nation's top recruits and highly ranked portal additions.
"Our WBB roster was intentionally constructed to ensure immediate impact, versatility, experience, length, depth, and talent throughout the roster. We are very excited to add proven competitors, relentless workers, and selfless teammates," said head coach Courtney Banghart. "This group is already eager to represent Carolina the right way — together. We can't wait to get to work and compete in front of the best fans in the country!"
THE RETURNERS
No. 1 • Jordan Zubich • Jr. • Guard
Appeared in 17 games as a sophomore • Scored a career-high eight points twice, against NC Central and at N.C. A&T • Knocked down 10 total threes.
No. 4 Laila Hull • R-Jr. • Guard
Came in off the bench in 31 games • Posted a career-high 17 points in the victory over Pitt, knocking down a personal-best five threes • Snagged a career-best three steals at Wake Forest • Three games scoring in double-figures • Shot 34% from beyond the arc with 32 triples • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 7 • Nyla Brooks • So. • Guard
ACC All-Freshman Team • Tamika Catchings Award Watch List • Appeared in 36 games, making one start • Scored a career-high 21 points in the win at Wake Forest, draining five threes • Scored in double-figures in 18 games • Drained 63 threes, the most by a Carolina freshman since the 2015-16 season • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 10 • Reniya Kelly • Sr. • Guard
Appeared in 23 games as a junior, making 22 starts • Missed the latter half of the season due to injury • Dropped a career-high 24 points in the win over Miami • Four games in double-figure scoring, all against ACC foes • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 15 • Sydney Barker • Sr. • Guard
Played in 16 games off the bench • Dished out a career-best two dimes in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament vs. Western Illinois.
No. 21 • Ciera Toomey • R-Jr. • Forward
Started in all 36 games • Scored a career-high 19 points against UNCG • Grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds in the win at Georgia Tech, the most by a Tar Heel in a game last year • Tallied 53 blocks, the most by a Tar Heel since 2023-24 • 15 games in double-figure scoring • Four games with 10-plus rebounds • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 26 • Taissa Queiroz • So. • Forward
Played in 25 games off the bench in 25 games in her debut campaign • Scored a career-high 10 points against Miami • Grabbed a career-best seven rebounds at Duke • Shot 49.2% from the field.
No. 34 • Blanca Thomas • Jr. • Center
Appeared in 20 games off the bench • Matched her career-high in scoring with eight points against UNCW • Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in the win over Pitt • All-ACC Academic Team.
THE NEWCOMERS
No. 3 • Gabby White • So. • Guard
Played in 34 games as a freshman en route to a Sweet 16 run at Virginia • Tallied double-figure scoring in eight games • Scored a career-high 22 points in a three-overtime win against Wake Forest • Also notched a personal-best 12 rebounds against the Demon Deacons • Dished out a personal-best six assists in three games • Averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
No. 5 • Sophie Burrows • Sr. • Guard
Spent three seasons at Syracuse prior to transferring to Carolina • Played in 92 games for the Orange, boasting 65 starts • Scored an average of 11.1 points per outing as a junior • Tallied 18 games in double-figure scoring this past season • Grabbed a personal-best 5.8 rebounds per outing as a junior • Snagged a career-high 16 boards this past year against Clemson • 2026 ACC Kay Yow Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
No. 8 • Achol Akot • Sr. • Forward
Transferred to Carolina following one year at Oklahoma State • Spent freshman and sophomore season at UCF • Honorable Mention All-Big 12 as a junior • Tabbed as a Kay Yow Servant Leader • Ranked second in the Big 12 this past season in field goal percentage at 63.3% … Scored a career-high 28 points in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament vs. Princeton • Posted 21 games in double-figure scoring this past season, with six games with 20-plus points.
No. 11 • Kate Harpring • Fr. • Guard
2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year • Touted as the No. 1 player in the class of 2026 by 247Sports • 2026 Georgia Girls Gatorade Player of the Year • 2026 McDonald's All-American • 2026 Jordan Brand Classic All-American • Led Marist Academy to back-to-back Georgia 4A State titles • Georgia all-time leading scorer with 3,435 career points.
No. 13 • Chloe Clardy • Sr. • Guard
Joins the Tar Heels following three seasons at Stanford • Appeared in 98 games for the Cardinal, making 29 starts • Played in 33 games as a junior, scoring a career-high 12.0 points per game • Ranked fifth this past season in the ACC with 2.03 steals per outing • Paced Stanford in 2025-26 with an average of 2.3 assists per game • 38 career games in double-figure scoring, including five 20-point outings.
No. 52 • Noelle Bofia • Forward
Early enrollee, graduated early from Xavier Prep to practice with the Tar Heels for Spring 2026 • Rated as the No. 52 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 by ESPN • Led Xavier Prep to its first AIA Girls Open Arizona State title as a sophomore • Posted a team-high 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game as a junior.
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.
"Our WBB roster was intentionally constructed to ensure immediate impact, versatility, experience, length, depth, and talent throughout the roster. We are very excited to add proven competitors, relentless workers, and selfless teammates," said head coach Courtney Banghart. "This group is already eager to represent Carolina the right way — together. We can't wait to get to work and compete in front of the best fans in the country!"
THE RETURNERS
No. 1 • Jordan Zubich • Jr. • Guard
Appeared in 17 games as a sophomore • Scored a career-high eight points twice, against NC Central and at N.C. A&T • Knocked down 10 total threes.
No. 4 Laila Hull • R-Jr. • Guard
Came in off the bench in 31 games • Posted a career-high 17 points in the victory over Pitt, knocking down a personal-best five threes • Snagged a career-best three steals at Wake Forest • Three games scoring in double-figures • Shot 34% from beyond the arc with 32 triples • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 7 • Nyla Brooks • So. • Guard
ACC All-Freshman Team • Tamika Catchings Award Watch List • Appeared in 36 games, making one start • Scored a career-high 21 points in the win at Wake Forest, draining five threes • Scored in double-figures in 18 games • Drained 63 threes, the most by a Carolina freshman since the 2015-16 season • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 10 • Reniya Kelly • Sr. • Guard
Appeared in 23 games as a junior, making 22 starts • Missed the latter half of the season due to injury • Dropped a career-high 24 points in the win over Miami • Four games in double-figure scoring, all against ACC foes • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 15 • Sydney Barker • Sr. • Guard
Played in 16 games off the bench • Dished out a career-best two dimes in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament vs. Western Illinois.
No. 21 • Ciera Toomey • R-Jr. • Forward
Started in all 36 games • Scored a career-high 19 points against UNCG • Grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds in the win at Georgia Tech, the most by a Tar Heel in a game last year • Tallied 53 blocks, the most by a Tar Heel since 2023-24 • 15 games in double-figure scoring • Four games with 10-plus rebounds • All-ACC Academic Team.
No. 26 • Taissa Queiroz • So. • Forward
Played in 25 games off the bench in 25 games in her debut campaign • Scored a career-high 10 points against Miami • Grabbed a career-best seven rebounds at Duke • Shot 49.2% from the field.
No. 34 • Blanca Thomas • Jr. • Center
Appeared in 20 games off the bench • Matched her career-high in scoring with eight points against UNCW • Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in the win over Pitt • All-ACC Academic Team.
THE NEWCOMERS
No. 3 • Gabby White • So. • Guard
Played in 34 games as a freshman en route to a Sweet 16 run at Virginia • Tallied double-figure scoring in eight games • Scored a career-high 22 points in a three-overtime win against Wake Forest • Also notched a personal-best 12 rebounds against the Demon Deacons • Dished out a personal-best six assists in three games • Averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
No. 5 • Sophie Burrows • Sr. • Guard
Spent three seasons at Syracuse prior to transferring to Carolina • Played in 92 games for the Orange, boasting 65 starts • Scored an average of 11.1 points per outing as a junior • Tallied 18 games in double-figure scoring this past season • Grabbed a personal-best 5.8 rebounds per outing as a junior • Snagged a career-high 16 boards this past year against Clemson • 2026 ACC Kay Yow Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
No. 8 • Achol Akot • Sr. • Forward
Transferred to Carolina following one year at Oklahoma State • Spent freshman and sophomore season at UCF • Honorable Mention All-Big 12 as a junior • Tabbed as a Kay Yow Servant Leader • Ranked second in the Big 12 this past season in field goal percentage at 63.3% … Scored a career-high 28 points in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament vs. Princeton • Posted 21 games in double-figure scoring this past season, with six games with 20-plus points.
No. 11 • Kate Harpring • Fr. • Guard
2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year • Touted as the No. 1 player in the class of 2026 by 247Sports • 2026 Georgia Girls Gatorade Player of the Year • 2026 McDonald's All-American • 2026 Jordan Brand Classic All-American • Led Marist Academy to back-to-back Georgia 4A State titles • Georgia all-time leading scorer with 3,435 career points.
No. 13 • Chloe Clardy • Sr. • Guard
Joins the Tar Heels following three seasons at Stanford • Appeared in 98 games for the Cardinal, making 29 starts • Played in 33 games as a junior, scoring a career-high 12.0 points per game • Ranked fifth this past season in the ACC with 2.03 steals per outing • Paced Stanford in 2025-26 with an average of 2.3 assists per game • 38 career games in double-figure scoring, including five 20-point outings.
No. 52 • Noelle Bofia • Forward
Early enrollee, graduated early from Xavier Prep to practice with the Tar Heels for Spring 2026 • Rated as the No. 52 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 by ESPN • Led Xavier Prep to its first AIA Girls Open Arizona State title as a sophomore • Posted a team-high 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game as a junior.
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.
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