Tar Heels Looking to Capture ACC Title
CHARLOTTE, N.C – As the 2023 season is underway the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill women’s basketball seeks to capture the ACC championship title. Head coach Courtney Banghart, entering her fifth season at UNC.
Banghart has led the Lady Tar Heels to winning seasons within her starting years at the university and looks to continue to work alongside the girls to make way for these wins in the 2023-24 season. Selected as the fourth head coach for the program’s history she made sure to be impactful within the program. Leading the women’s Tar Heels to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances including the Sweet 16 trip in 2022.
Impactful coach to an impactful player, Deja Kelly represents the Tar Heels women’s basketball team as a leader. She was named National Point Guard of the Year for the second consecutive year, and she has many other achievements underneath her name.
In 2022, Kelly averaged 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, with a 37.3 field goal percentage per game. She is considered one of the best players in our country with an expectation of containing her legacy through to the 2024 WNBA draft. The career she has showcased at UNC has been on a high.
“Knowing I must keep the main thing, the main thing. I know what has gotten me all these opportunities in basketball and school,” said Daja Kelly.
Alongside Kelly, Alyssa Ustby a six-one guard and forward, named National Small Forward of the Year for the third year in a row has found herself as the selected team captain for the 2023-24 basketball season. With honorable mentions in the ACC as she amplifies outstanding strides on the court, All-ACC first team, All-ACC Academic Team, and the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award and many more.
Reflecting on last season averaging 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with a 50.6 percent field goal advantage per game. Each year she has pushed through by excelling through her limits by working with the team and developing for the different results.
“Being a team captain is something that I don’t wear lightly, it’s really important to me that girls one through 15 are seen, they’re valued and their opinions are heard because I noticed in my experience that you get the best results out of your teammates individually and your team as a collective whole when people feel seen and their presence is important,” Ustby stated.
The women’s Tar Heel basketball is in preparation to open up their season at home against the Garner-Webb Running Bulls, which they are continuously looking forward to.