Just two games into its 2025-26 campaign, the UNC women’s basketball team is showing glimpses of how special it can be.
North Carolina blew out NC Central, 90-42, in its season-opener on November 3. Three days later, the Tar Heels (2-0) cruised past Elon, 71-37.
Sure, UNC hasn’t played anyone challenging yet, but it passed easy tests with flying colors. In the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, North Carolina jumped three spots to eight – its first Top 10-ranking of the year.
The Tar Heels will face their first greatest early-season test on Thursday night, facing a fellow Top-10 school in UCLA at 9 p.m. ET. The Bruins (3-0), fresh off their first Final Four appearance earlier in 2025, return a deep lineup led by Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice.
UNC said goodbye to fan favorite Alyssa Ustby after its Sweet 16 run in March, but returns a talented, guard-heavy lineup anchored by Indya Nivar and Nyla Brooks. Nyla Harris and Ciera Toomey are poised to take on larger roles this year, with all five of the aforementioned Tar Heels averaged double-digits in the scoring department.
Top 🔟 Tar Heels! pic.twitter.com/SKNWoksX8O
— Carolina Women’s Basketball (@uncwbb) November 11, 2025
North Carolina will stay in Las Vegas after facing UCLA, matching up with Fairfield at 6 p.m. Saturday. UNC stays on the road next week, traveling out west to face North Carolina A&T on November 20, before returning to Carmichael Arena three days later to host UNC-Greensboro.
The Tar Heels are an ACC power under head coach Courtney Banghart, with both parties searching for their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance next March. With a talented, new-look roster, how far can North Carolina go?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC WBB ranked eight in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
