Making its seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the UNC women’s basketball team is ready to prove itself with a deep run.
North Carolina (26-7, 14-4 ACC), playing as a 4-seed in the first Fort Worth region, will host 13-seed Western Illinois at Carmichael Arena on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
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A cool quirk in the NCAA Women’s Tournament: if you earn a Top-4 regional seed, you host the first two rounds. Along with the Tar Heels and the Ohio Valley Conference Champion Leathernecks (26-5, 16-4 OVC), 5-seed Maryland and 12-seed Murray State will play in the other Chapel Hill game.
Despite losing seniors Alyssa Ustby, Maria Gakdeng and Lexi Donarski to graduation, UNC re-loaded this offseason with a combination of strong returners, recruits and transfers. North Carolina has just four losses in 2026, with three coming to fellow NCAA Tournament teams.
UNC is a younger, deeper roster with seven players averaging a minimum six points per game. Nyla Harris leads the Tar Heels’ frontcourt, averaging a team-best 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. North Carolina has a trio of dependable guards, with Lanie Grant (10.6 PPG), Indya Nivar (10.3) and Elina Aarnisalo all averaging double-figures.
Don’t know much about Western Illinois? Like UNC, the Leathernecks only have four losses in 2026. Senior forward Mia Nicastro is one of the nation’s top scorers, sitting fourth in Division one at 24.2 points per game.
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If you are in Chapel Hill, seriously considering going to watch this game. It’s pretty special to have an NCAA Tournament matchup in your home gym.
If you’re planning to watch UNC-WIU on TV, your favorite streaming device, listening on the radio or somewhere else, keep reading below for more broadcast information.
What channel is UNC vs. Western Illinois on Friday? Time, TV schedule, radio
TV Channel: ESPNNEWS
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Radio: SiriusXM (Channel 207)
Website: WatchESPN
Where to watch UNC vs. Western Illinois on live stream
Stream UNC vs. Western Illinois
UNC vs. Western Illinois prediction, picks, odds
Playing in front of what they can expect to be a packed Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels will be ready to roll in their NCAA Tournament opener.
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Western Illinois is no slouch, charging its way through the OVC conference tournament. The Leathernecks hope to stage a massive upset, anchored by one of the best scorers in women’s college basketball.
North Carolina pulls away in the second half, thanks to free throws and its perimeter shooting.
Score prediction: UNC 74, Western Illinois 58
Spread: UNC -25.5
Total: O/U 132.5
Moneyline: N/A
Full UNC basketball schedule
November 3: vs. North Carolina Central (W, 90-42)
Nov. 6: vs. Elon (W, 71-37)
Nov. 13: vs. UCLA in Las Vegas, Nev. (L, 78-60)
Nov. 15: vs. Fairfield in Las Vegas, Nev. (W, 82-68)
Nov. 20: @ North Carolina A&T (W, 85-50)
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Nov. 23: vs. UNC-Greensboro (W, 94-48)
Nov. 27: vs. South Dakota State in Cancun, Mexico (W, 83-48)
Nov. 28: vs. Kansas State in Cancun, Mexico (W, 85-73)
Nov. 29: vs. Columbia (N.Y.) University in Cancun, Mexico (W, 80-63)
December 4: @ Texas (L, 79-64)
Dec. 7: vs. Boston University (W, 82-40)
Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (L, 76-66)
Dec. 17: vs. UNC-Wilmington (W, 84-34)
Dec. 21: vs. Charleston Southern (W, 93-74)
Dec. 29: @ Boston College (W, 90-39)
January 1: vs. Cal (W, 71-55)
Jan. 4: vs. Stanford (L, 77-71)
Jan: 11: at Notre Dame (L, 73-50)
Jan. 15: vs. Miami (FL) (W, 73-62)
Jan. 18: @ Florida State (W, 82-55)
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Jan. 22: @ Georgia Tech (W, 54-46)
Jan. 25: vs. Syracuse (W, 77-71)
February 2: @ NC State (W, 61-59)
Feb. 5: vs. Clemson (W, 53-44)
Feb. 8: @ Wake Forest (W, 84-56)
Feb. 12: vs. SMU (W, 94-42)
Feb. 15: at Duke (L, 72-68)
Feb. 19: @ Virginia Tech (W, 66-63)
Feb. 22: vs. Pitt (W, 78-50)
Feb. 26: @ Virginia (W, 82-70)
March 1: vs. Duke (W, 74-69)
March 6: vs. Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals (W, 85-68)
March 7: vs. Louisville in ACC Tournament Semifinals (L, 65-57)
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Women’s Basketball: Time, streaming information, picks, odds vs. WIU
