With another successful regular season under head coach Courtney Banghart, the UNC women’s basketball team is ready to prove itself as a postseason contender.
North Carolina (25-6, 14-4 ACC) currently sits on a 4-game winning streak, extending that with Sunday’s 74-69, Senior Day upset of Duke. UCLA transfer Elina Aarnisalo broke out for a team-best 22 points, while Nyla Harris (19) and Lanie Grant (10) added double-digit point totals.
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Next up for the Tar Heels is ACC Tournament play – and they’ll have to wait a couple days. In the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, which starts Wednesday in Duluth (Ga.), UNC earns the third seed.
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, North Carolina will face the winner of Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech/Florida State. The 6-seeded Hokies (22-8, 12-6 ACC), who have a single-bye, play Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Stanford and Miami (FL) begin tournament play on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Blue Devils (21-8, 16-2 ACC) earned the top overall seed, while Louisville is the two seed.
The Tar Heels only have three losses in 2026: vs. Stanford and Notre Dame, followed by Duke. Outside of wins over NC State (61-39) and Virginia Tech (66-63), every UNC win this calendar year is by multiple possessions.
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North Carolina’s 2025-26 squad is anchored by a younger, deeper squad with solid guard play. Nyla Harris (11.2 points per game), Indya Nivar (10.4) and Grant (10.3) lead the scoring attack, which features six Tar Heels averaging a minimum 8.5 PPG.
UNC, which will make its seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance later this month, is hoping for its first Elite Eight since 2014. North Carolina made the 2025 Sweet 16, but a tough loss to the Blue Devils ended its National Championship hopes.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC WBB to play as 3-seed in ACC Tournament this week
