The UNC women’s basketball team just keeps on winning, no matter the opponent, proving itself as one of the best programs in the ACC and entire country.
North Carolina (25-4, 13-3 ACC) is winners of its past seven games, launching it from the middle of a loaded conference towards the top.
The Tar Heels are one of the nation’s top defensive teams, holding opponents to a 35.9 field goal percentage. UNC has four starters scoring in double-figures: Maria Gakdeng (11.2 points per game), Alyssa Ustby (10.7 ppg), Reniya Kelly (10.1 ppg) and Lexi Donarski (10 ppg), plus head coach Courtney Banghart typically rolls 10 players deep in a given game.
North Carolina will have its toughest remaining regular-season test on Thursday, February 27, traveling to ranked archrival Duke in its 2025 road finale, looking to build more momentum ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
Earlier Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports released its weekly Coaches’ Poll. Given their recent stretch of scorching-hot play, the Tar Heels climbed a spot from ninth to 10th.
|
Ranking |
Team |
Record |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Texas |
27-2 |
761 (22) |
|
2 |
UCLA |
26-1 |
738 (7) |
|
3 |
USC |
25-2 |
699 (1) |
|
4 |
Notre Dame |
24-3 |
695 (1) |
|
5 |
UConn |
26-3 |
655 |
|
6 |
South Carolina |
25-3 |
631 |
|
7 |
LSU |
27-2 |
591 |
|
8 |
TCU |
26-3 |
527 |
|
9 |
North Carolina |
25-4 |
525 |
|
10 |
North Carolina State |
22-5 |
509 |
|
11 |
Tennessee |
21-6 |
456 |
|
12 |
Ohio State |
23-4 |
435 |
|
13 |
Oklahoma |
21-6 |
378 |
|
14 |
Kentucky |
21-5 |
353 |
|
15 |
Duke |
21-7 |
339 |
|
16 |
Kansas State |
25-5 |
306 |
|
17 |
Maryland |
21-6 |
261 |
|
18 |
Baylor |
25-5 |
231 |
|
19 |
West Virginia |
21-6 |
213 |
|
20 |
Alabama |
22-6 |
183 |
|
21 |
Creighton |
23-4 |
139 |
|
22 |
Michigan State |
20-7 |
92 |
|
23 |
Oklahoma State |
22-5 |
82 |
|
24 |
Florida State |
22-6 |
81 |
|
25 |
South Dakota State |
24-3 |
72 |
UNC is one of five ACC teams in this week’s Coaches’ Poll, along with conference leader Notre Dame (fourth), local rival NC State (10th), Duke (15th) and Florida State (24th). Louisville – who North Carolina beat on Sunday, Georgia Tech and California also received votes.
A quarter of this week’s Coaches’ Poll is made up of ACC teams – and could easily be a higher figure. Notre Dame is amongst the favorites to win March Madness, led by Olivia Miles and Player of the Year candidate Hannah Hidalgo. NC State made the Final Four in 2024, while the Tar Heels will make their sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance – and hope for their second-ever National Title.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC WBB climbs to ninth in February 25 USA TODAY Sports Coaches’ Poll
