Latest news with #Ustby
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC WBB has one of the country's top 2025 recruiting classes according to ESPN
UNC WBB has one of the country's top 2025 recruiting classes according to ESPN How far will the UNC women's basketball team's newest recruits carry it? Despite watching its 2024-2025 season conclude against archrival Duke in the NCAA Tournament, the UNC women's basketball team has plenty to be proud of. North Carolina made its second Sweet 16 appearance in four years, a feat that hadn't occurred since the early 2000s. The Tar Heels, led by a trio of veterans in Alyssa Ustby, Maria Gakdeng and Lexi Donarski, made lockdown defense their trademark. UNC will carry a much younger look into its 2025-2026 campaign, though. Ustby, Gakdeng and Donarski are all out of eligibility. North Carolina will return nine players from last season, headlined by junior guard Reniya Kelly, but there's also a ton of excitement surrounding the Tar Heels' 2025 recruiting class. ESPN ranks UNC's 2025 recruiting class the country's fifth-best, thanks to a trio of Top-80 incoming recruits in Nyla Brooks (#17), Taliyah Henderson (#27) and Taissa Queiroz (#77). Brooks, a 6'2" guard from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va., was named Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in March. This is the second straight year a North Carolina recruit earned this honor, with current guard Lanie Grant winning it in 2024. Henderson is a 5-star wing from Tuscon, Arizona who played her high school basketball at Salpointe Catholic. Queiroz, an incoming sophomore from Brazil who played her high school ball at Santa Rosa, Calif.'s Cardinal Newman High School, is listed as a 6'1" guard. The Tar Heels will have plenty of depth this coming season – and minutes up for grabs. With Ustby, Gakdeng and Donarski departing, I can easily see UNC's incoming trio getting lots of court time next season. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two UNC WBB stars earn WNBA Training Camp Invites
Two UNC WBB stars earn WNBA Training Camp Invites Can these two UNC WBB stars make WNBA rosters? The 2024-2025 college basketball season was kind to the UNC women's basketball program, which enjoyed its most successful campaign in three years. North Carolina made a run to the Sweet 16, before watching its season come to an end against archrival Duke in a 47-38 offensive struggle. The Tar Heels (29-8, 13-5 ACC) finished tied for fourth with Florida State in a loaded ACC, one which sent nine teams to the NCAA Tournament. Two major factors behind UNC's big season were the vaunted post duo of Alyssa Ustby and Maria Gakdeng, both of whom played themselves into WNBA Draft consideration. Neither got selected during the April 14 Draft, but good news is on the horizon for each. On Tuesday, April 15, both Ustby and Gakdeng received Training Camp Invites. Ustby will head cross-country to Angel City and join the Los Angeles Sparks, while Gakdeng goes southeast to the ATL and joins the Atlanta Dream. Ustby started all but eight of 150 games she played in a North Carolina uniform, averaging 11.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over her career. Gakdeng spent the first two years of her collegiate career at Boston College, then flew down to Chapel Hill for her last two, averaging 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over her 4-year career. Los Angeles is hoping Ustby can help it snap a 4-year postseason drought, the longest in franchise history. Gakdeng will join an Atlanta squad with several postseason appearances, including each of the last two summers, but one that hasn't won a playoff game since 2018. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After UNC women's basketball loss vs. Duke, Alyssa Ustby passes torch to Lanie Grant
After UNC women's basketball loss vs. Duke, Alyssa Ustby passes torch to Lanie Grant Show Caption Hide Caption What Birmingham Regional NCAA tournament players know about Alabama What do NCAA Women's Tournament basketball players at Birmingham Regional know about state of Alabama? Not much. That's what we found out. USA TODAY Sports Network BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As the clock ticked down in North Carolina's Sweet 16 loss to Duke on Friday, Tar Heels freshman guard Lanie Grant tossed the ball to fellow guard Alyssa Ustby, a graduate student, to take the final shot. As the buzzer sounded, Ustby's layup dropped through the net. Reality then set in: Ustby was walking away from the program that she helped build at UNC the past five years. The 17-year-old player who passed her the ball? That's who Ustby is passing the Tar Heel torch to. 'I think it's pretty fitting, how much she helped me,' Grant said. 'I'm happy that I could be the one to get her the ball on her final points.' Grant, who appeared in 36 games for UNC this season, almost missed the opportunity to cross paths with Ustby. Grant should be a senior in high school. But after UNC head coach Courtney Banghart told Grant's mom they could use her help as soon as possible, she reclassified and made her way to Chapel Hill a year early. Although they are five years apart, Grant and Ustby have formed a light-hearted relationship like none other. 'I just like to pick on her and remind her that she's still a child, and she's in college playing with girls that are four, five years older than her,' Ustby told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. At 23 years old, Ustby proved to be every bit the veteran player that she has been all season in the Tar Heels' 47-38 loss Friday to their in-state rivals, finishing the game with nine points and 10 rebounds. In her five years in Carolina blue, Ustby scored 1,782 points and became the Tar Heel's No. 1 all-time rebounder, with 1,260. 'Alyssa's superpower is that she has a relentless quest for excellence,' Banghart said. 'When all the dust settles, she'll know that she's leaving her footprint at a place that has had excellence everywhere.' Ustby feels confident that her 'relentless quest for excellence,' which she shared with fellow graduate guard Lexi Donarski, will continue with Grant and the team's other younger players. 'Lexi and I both just hope that our impact, whether it's infusing girls with confidence or having them learn strategic things from us, can transfer down and they can kind of pick up a torch and lead the program moving forward,' Ustby said. Grant played for 23 minutes of Friday's game, scoring 4 points, with 2 rebounds and 1 assist. At a couple points, she aggressively drove the lane to give UNC energy. 'We know how to get here now, we know what it feels like to lose on this stage,' Grant said. 'So I think just using that as motivation. And it's expected, at this point, to get back to the Sweet 16.' Although UNC's season is over, the program seems to be in good hands. Ansley Gavlak is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness 2025: UNC women's basketball vs. Duke Blue Devils Sweet 16 Preview
March Madness 2025: UNC women's basketball vs. Duke Blue Devils Sweet 16 Preview Here's everything you need to know for the UNC-Duke women's basketball Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament matchup Friday. The North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils just can't seem to avoid each other in the postseason, no matter which sport both archrivals are playing. On Friday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. ET, the UNC and Duke women's basketball teams will face off in the Sweet 16 from Birmingham, Alabama's Legacy Arena. If the Tar Heels (29-7, 13-5 ACC) and Blue Devils' (28-7, 14-4 ACC) two regular-season matchups are any indication of how Friday's decisive NCAA Tournament rematch will play out, we're in for a tremendous battle. North Carolina needed overtime to down Duke, 53-46, on January 9 from Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill. UNC kept February's rematch close, leading by a point at halftime, then the Blue Devils charged ahead in the second half for a 68-53 victory. The Tar Heels were fully healthy during Round 1, led by a 10-point, 12-rebound performance from star forward Alyssa Ustby. Round Two was a different story, with Ustby and guard Reniya Kelly both injured. Duke took full advantage of this: Reigan Richardson scored 23 points, Toby Fournier added a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench and Ashlon Jackson recored 11 points. Both teams are fully healthy, which should create for plenty of exciting action. There's plenty on the line in Friday's rivalry matchup besides bragging rights: North Carolina is hunting for its first Elite Eight appearance since 2014, while the Blue Devils are looking for their first Elite Eight appearance since 2013. If you're going to Birmingham or already there, enjoy your time and cheer the Tar Heels to victory. If you're watching on TV, your favorite streaming device or listening on the radio, keep reading below for broadcast information. Key to victory for UNC During its Round of 32 matchup, UNC pulled away from West Virginia thanks to a big third quarter from Ustby, who finished the win with 21 points. Kelly and Lexi Donarski each added 11 points, giving North Carolina a well-rounded scoring attack. The Tar Heels didn't shoot the ball well from deep, though, making just three of their 15 attempts. Donarksi was an ice-cold 1-of-7 from deep, Kelly drained just one of her three attempts, while Lanie Grant nailed one 3-pointer off the bench. I have no doubt Duke will try and double-team Ustby and Maria Gakdeng, UNC's 6'3" center. When this happens, North Carolina will need to make shots from the perimeter. If the Tar Heels can shoot a serviceable percentage from deep, they'll be advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in over a decade. Something to Watch North Carolina was the ACC's worst free throw-shooting team during the regular season, recording a paltry 67 percent mark from the line. UNC wasn't much better against West Virginia, making just 15-of-22 attempts (68.2%). If the Tar Heels are aggressive and keep feeding the ball to their Ustby-Gakdeng duo, they'll go to the charity stripe a bunch. I'd keep my eye on how efficient North Carolina is from the free throw line on Friday, which could very well be a deciding factor between a win and loss. What you need to know What: North Carolina Tar Heels (29-7, 13-5 ACC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (28-7, 14-4 ACC) When: Friday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. ET Where: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. TV: ESPN Radio: SiriusXM (Channel 203) All-Time Series: UNC leads, 56-54 Last meeting: Duke 68, UNC 53 on February 27 in Cameron Indoor Stadium Statistical Leaders North Carolina Points: Maria Gakdeng, C, 11.1 points per game North Carolina Rebounds: Alyssa Ustby, F, 9.4 rebounds per game North Carolina Assists: Alyssa Ustby, F, 2.9 assists per game Duke Points: Toby Fournier, F, 13.4 points per game Duke Rebounds: Jadyn Donovan, G, 6.5 rebounds per game Duke Assists: Taina Mair, G, 3.8 assists per game 2024-2025 UNC basketball schedule Nov. 4: vs. Charleston Southern (W, 83-53) (1-0) Nov. 7: vs. UNC-Wilmington (W, 77-50) (2-0) Nov. 12: at North Carolina A&T (W, 66-47) (3-0) Nov. 15: vs. UConn in Greensboro, NC (L, 69-58) (3-1) Nov. 23: vs. Ball State in Battle 4 Atlantis (W, 63-52) (4-1) Nov. 24: vs. Villanova in Battle 4 Atlantis (W, 53-36) (5-1) Nov. 25: vs. Indiana in Battle 4 Atlantis Championship Game (W, 69-39) (6-1) Nov. 29: vs North Carolina Central (W, 119-42) (7-1) Dec. 5: vs. Kentucky in ACC-SEC Challenge (W, 72-53) (8-1) Dec. 8: vs. Coppin State (W, 72-46) (9-1) Dec. 11: vs. UNC-Greensboro (W, 80-56) (10-1) Dec. 15: vs. Georgia Tech (L, 82-76) (10-2, 0-1 ACC) Dec. 18: vs. Florida in Jumpman Invitational (W, 77-57) (11-2, 0-1) Dec. 21: vs. Norfolk State (W, 90-47) (12-2, 0-1) Dec. 29: at Miami (FL) (W, 69-60) (13-2, 1-1) Jan. 5: vs. Notre Dame (L, 76-66) (13-3, 1-2) Jan. 9: vs. Duke (W, 53-46) (14-3, 2-2) Jan. 12: vs. Boston College (W, 80-67) (15-3, 3-2) Jan. 16: at SMU (W, 64-33) (16-3, 4-2) Jan. 19: at Pitt (W, 75-58) (17-3, 5-2) Jan. 23: vs. Wake Forest (W, 76-51) (18-3, 6-2) Jan. 26: vs. Florida State (L, 86-84) (18-4, 6-3) Jan. 30: at California (W, 65-52) (19-4, 7-3) Feb. 2: at Stanford (W, 69-67) (20-4, 8-3) Feb. 9: at Clemson (W, 53-51) (21-4, 9-3) Feb. 13: vs. Virginia Tech (W, 67-62) (22-4, 10-3) Feb. 16: vs. NC State (W, 66-65) (23-4, 11-3) Feb. 20: at Syracuse (W, 68-58) (24-4, 12-3) Feb. 23: at Louisville (W, 79-75) (25-4, 13-3) Feb. 27: at Duke (L, 68-53) (25-5, 13-4) March 2: vs. Virginia (L, 78-75) (25-6, 13-5) March 6: vs. Boston College in ACC Tournament (W, 78-71) (26-6, 13-5) March 7: vs. Florida State in ACC Tournament (W, 60-56) (27-6, 13-5) March 8: vs. NC State in ACC Tournament Semifinals (L, 66-55) (27-7, 13-5) March 22: vs. Oregon State in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 (W, 70-49) (28-7, 13-5) March 24: vs. West Virginia in NCAA Tournament Round of 32 (W, 58-47) (29-7, 13-5) We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. 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USA Today
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
This UNC women's basketball star is trying every other Tar Heels sport. Here's why
This UNC women's basketball star is trying every other Tar Heels sport. Here's why Show Caption Hide Caption Games to watch in the women's March Madness Sweet Sixteen The women's March Madness tournament is heating up, and Meghan Hall gives some of the best matchups to watch in the Sweet Sixteen. Sports Seriously UNC basketball player Alyssa Ustby is trying out different sports with other UNC athletes and posting the videos to Instagram. Ustby was a multi-sport athlete in high school and wants to use her platform to highlight other sports besides basketball. She has made videos with 15 different teams at UNC, including gymnastics, soccer, tennis, swimming, field hockey, wrestling and fencing. Her videos have been well-received by the other athletes, who enjoy laughing at her attempts to learn their sports. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – University of North Carolina senior Alyssa Ustby may be breaking Tar Heels women's basketball records during March Madness, but she also wants to 'shine light on other sports at UNC, because UNC is known as a basketball school and we get a lot of attention.' Her idea to get eyes on other UNC sports? In 2022, she began trying another sport for a day, then posting videos on Instagram. She asks her fellow UNC athletes to showcase their skills in their respective sports. Then, she mimics them herself — or at least she tries to. Watch UNC vs. Duke on Fuco (free trial) Ustby has done this with 15 different teams, but she's not stopping there. After the basketball season is over, she has scheduled times to test her skills on the baseball field and the track. 'Football was super fun because I got to make the video with one of our best wide receivers and our quarterback, so that was pretty cool,' Ustby said. 'And my brothers played football, so I'm versatile in catching and throwing.' In addition to basketball, Ustby also excelled in soccer and softball in high school, allowing her to maneuver through many of the skills thrown at her easily. 'In high school I was a multi-sport athlete and a big advocate for younger kids to play multiple sports,' Ustby said. 'Anytime we have camps, I always encourage girls: 'If you're not interested in choosing basketball, it's OK, there are so many other sports, so many other things you can do.' And that's kind of where the thought came from.' For her first test, Ustby put her basketball jersey aside and hopped on the beam and bars, trying to replicate the movements of the UNC gymnastics team. 'I want to show how talented the other girls are,' Ustby said. After gymnastics, Ustby continued the trend with soccer, tennis and swimming before branching out to sports such as field hockey, wrestling and fencing. Sometimes Ustby demonstrates her athleticism, while other times she makes a fool out of herself. But the real goal is just to have fun. 'I think in the volleyball one, I continued to try to save the ball and it took me five or six takes, and it was pretty ridiculous,' Ustby said. 'The girls were having a blast just laughing at me. So that's the whole point, is just to bring joy.' The sport that brought her the least amount of joy? 'I hated swimming,' Ustby said. 'I didn't grow up swimming, so that one was really difficult.' For now, her focus is on the basketball court, where No. 3 UNC is set to take on its biggest rival, No. 2 Duke, in the Sweet 16 on Friday – the first time the teams have met in the women's NCAA Tournament. Ustby has had a stellar tournament so far: She became UNC's all-time leader in career rebounds (1,260) in a first-round game against Oregon State, and she scored a career-high 21 points in the second round against West Virginia. Ansley Gavlak is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
