You know that feeling when you walk into Carmichael Arena and the air just feels different? It’s not the massive, corporate chill of the Dean Dome. It’s tighter. Louder. Honestly, it’s a bit of a throwback, but that’s exactly why North Carolina women’s basketball feels like it's on the verge of something massive right now.
People keep asking: is Courtney Banghart actually going to get them back to the promised land?
The 1994 title feels like a lifetime ago. Charlotte Smith’s buzzer-beater is legendary, sure, but living in the past doesn't win ACC games in 2026. Right now, the Tar Heels are sitting at 14-5. They just came off a physical 73-62 win over Miami where Reniya Kelly basically went nuclear, dropping a career-high 24 points. It wasn't just that she scored; it was how she did it. She looked like a pro.
The Courtney Banghart Era: Year Seven Reality
Coach Banghart didn't just inherit a team in 2019; she inherited a culture that needed a complete hard drive wipe. Seven seasons in, the "rebuild" label is officially dead. This is just her program now.
Under her, the defense is a nightmare for opponents. They’ve held seven teams under 50 points this season alone. Think about that. In a modern era where everyone wants to play fast and score 90, UNC is happy to drag you into the mud. They are 48-2 under Banghart when holding teams under 50. Basically, if you can't score 50 on them, you might as well head to the bus at halftime.
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But it’s not all sunshine. The loss to Notre Dame (50-73) earlier this month was a reality check. It showed that while the floor is high, the ceiling still has a few leaks when they face elite, top-10 size.
Why the 2025-26 Roster is Different
Most fans focus on the starters, but the bench is where the magic is happening this year. They are currently 16th in the country in bench points. That's a huge shift from previous years where the starters played 38 minutes and looked gassed by March.
- Lanie Grant: The sophomore guard is a spark plug. She’s already had 11 games in double figures this year.
- Indya Nivar: She’s the glue. Leading the team with 3.5 assists per game, she’s the one making sure the offense doesn't stagnate into "hero ball."
- Taissa Queiroz: The freshman from Brazil is the wildcard. She’s 6'1" but plays like she’s 6'5". Watching her navigate the paint is something else.
What Most People Get Wrong About UNC’s Recruiting
There’s this weird narrative that UNC can’t land the "big fish" compared to South Carolina or LSU. That’s just factually wrong.
Look at the 2026 class. They’ve already secured Kate Harpring, the No. 1 ranked point guard in her class. She’s a 5-star beast who averaged 32 points a game in high school. Then you add 6'4" Noelle Bofia to the mix. Banghart is building a roster that looks a lot more like the WNBA than the old-school ACC.
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Harpring is the type of player who changes a program's gravity. She’s aggressive. She hunts buckets. Most importantly, she chose Chapel Hill over basically every other blue blood in the country.
The Carmichael Advantage
Carmichael Arena holds about 6,800 people. It’s "small" by ACC standards, but that’s the trick. When it’s full, it’s a pressure cooker. The school recently renovated it with a new scoreboard and a women's basketball museum, but it kept that old-school "in your face" seating.
If you haven't been lately, you're missing out on a specific kind of intensity. The student section is general admission, and they’ve been showing up in droves. Admission is free for students, which has helped turn the atmosphere from "polite applause" to "deafening roar" during conference play.
The Road to March: What Needs to Happen
If North Carolina women’s basketball wants to make a deep run—we're talking Elite Eight or beyond—they have to fix the shooting slumps. The Stanford loss (71-77) was a classic example. They had the lead, they had the momentum, but they went cold for a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. You can't do that against the Cardinal.
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The schedule doesn't get easier. They’ve got a massive road test at NC State on February 2nd. That’s the game everyone circles. It’s more than a rivalry; it’s a litmus test for who actually owns the state this year.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the team through the rest of the season, watch these three specific things:
- Turnover Margin: UNC is third in the ACC at forcing turnovers. If they aren't turning you over 20 times, they're struggling.
- Reniya Kelly’s Confidence: When she’s aggressive from the perimeter, the floor opens up for the bigs like Blanca Thomas.
- The Glass: They just set a season-high with 54 rebounds against UNCW. If they can dominate the boards against the bigger ACC teams, they are a lock for a top-4 seed.
The reality is that this team is deeper than last year's squad that won 29 games. They have the international flair with players like Elina Aarnisalo (Finland) and Liza Astakhova (Russia), and they have the grit of local North Carolina talent.
Next Steps for the Tar Heels
To stay on track for a high NCAA seed, North Carolina needs to sweep their upcoming home stand against Syracuse and Clemson. The focus has to remain on defensive consistency.
Keep an eye on the official @UNCWBB social channels for game-day promotions, especially for the "Alumni Day" game on January 25th. If you're planning to attend a game at Carmichael, remember that parking is free in non-reserved lots on weekends after 5 PM, but the Rams Head Deck is your best bet for weekday afternoon tip-offs. Success in March starts with holding serve at home in January.