North Carolina Women’s Basketball Rolls Out 2026-27 Roster

[MichelleHillison]

UNC Athletic Communications:

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Coming off its second straight Sweet 16, North Carolina women’s basketball is primed for its next great team with the announcement of the 2026-27 roster. Carolina brings back nine Tar Heels from last season, while also adding one of the nations’ top recruits and highly ranked portal additions.

“Our WBB roster was intentionally constructed to ensure immediate impact, versatility, experience, length, depth and talent throughout the roster. We are very excited to add proven competitors, relentless workers, and selfless teammates,” said head coach Courtney Banghart. “This group is already eager to represent Carolina the right way — together. We can’t wait to get to work and compete in front of the best fans in the country!”

THE RETURNERS

No. 1 • Jordan Zubich • Jr. • Guard
Appeared in 17 games as a sophomore • Scored a career-high eight points twice, against NC Central and at N.C. A&T • Knocked down 10 total threes.

No. 4 Laila Hull • R-Jr. • Guard
Came in off the bench in 31 games • Posted a career-high 17 points in the victory over Pitt, knocking down a personal-best five threes • Snagged a career-best three steals at Wake Forest • Three games scoring in double-figures • Shot 34% from beyond the arc with 32 triples • All-ACC Academic Team.

No. 7 • Nyla Brooks • So. • Guard
ACC All-Freshman Team • Tamika Catchings Award Watch List • Appeared in 36 games, making one start • Scored a career-high 21 points in the win at Wake Forest, draining five threes • Scored in double-figures in 18 games • Drained 63 threes, the most by a Carolina freshman since the 2015-16 season • All-ACC Academic Team.

No. 10 • Reniya Kelly • Sr. • Guard
Appeared in 23 games as a junior, making 22 starts • Missed the latter-half of the season due to injury • Dropped a career-high 24 points in the win over Miami • Four games in double-figure scoring, all against ACC foes • All-ACC Academic Team.

No. 15 • Sydney Barker • Sr. • Guard
Played in 16 games off the bench • Dished out a career-best two dimes in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament vs. Western Illinois.

No. 21 • Ciera Toomey • R-Jr. • Forward
Started in all 36 games • Scored a career-high 19 points against UNCG • Grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds in the win at Georgia Tech, the most by a Tar Heel in a game last year • Tallied 53 blocks, the most by a Tar Heel since 2023-24 • 15 games in double-figure scoring • Four games with 10-plus rebounds • All-ACC Academic Team.

No. 26 • Taissa Queiroz • So. • Forward
Played in 25 games off the bench in 25 games in her debut campaign • Scored a career-high 10 points against Miami • Grabbed a career-best seven rebounds at Duke • Shot 49.2% from the field.

No. 34 • Blanca Thomas • Jr. • Center
Appeared in 20 games off the bench • Matched her career-high in scoring with eight points against UNCW • Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in the win over Pitt • All-ACC Academic Team.

THE NEWCOMERS

No. 3 • Gabby White • So. • Guard
Played in 34 games as a freshman en route to a Sweet 16 run at Virginia • Tallied double-figure scoring in eight games • Scored a career-high 22 points in a three-overtime win against Wake Forest • Also notched a personal-best 12 rebounds against the Demon Deacons • Dished out a personal-best six assists in three games • Averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

No. 5 • Sophie Burrows • Sr. • Guard
Spent three seasons at Syracuse prior to transferring to Carolina • Played in 92 games for the Orange, boasting 65 starts • Scored an average of 11.1 points per outing as a junior • Tallied 18 games in double-figure scoring this past season • Grabbed a personal-best 5.8 rebounds per outing as a junior • Snagged a career-high 16 boards this past year against Clemson • 2026 ACC Kay Yow Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year.

No. 8 • Achol Akot • Sr. • Forward
Transferred to Carolina following one year at Oklahoma State • Spent freshman and sophomore season at UCF • Honorable Mention All-Big 12 as a junior • Tabbed as a Kay Yow Servant Leader • Ranked second in the Big 12 this past season in field goal percentage at 63.3% … Scored a career-high 28 points in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament vs. Princeton • Posted 21 games in double-figure scoring this past season, with six games with 20-plus points.

No. 11 • Kate Harpring • Fr. • Guard
2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year • Touted as the No. 1 player in the class of 2026 by 247Sports • 2026 Georgia Girls Gatorade Player of the Year • 2026 McDonald’s All-American • 2026 Jordan Brand Classic All-American • Led Marist Academy to back-to-back Georgia 4A State titles • Georgia all-time leading scorer with 3,435 career points.

No. 13 • Chloe Clardy • Sr. • Guard
Joins the Tar Heels following three seasons at Stanford • Appeared in 98 games for the Cardinal, making 29 starts • Played in 33 games as a junior, scoring a career-high 12.0 points per game • Ranked fifth this past season in the ACC with 2.03 steals per outing • Paced Stanford in 2025-26 with an average of 2.3 assists per game • 38 career games in double-figure scoring, including five 20-point outings.

 

[oldwell]

We’re very deep

 

[Carolina151]

ACC Champs.

 

[tarboy]

I was so sure that Kate was going to get her Dad's # 15. I guess she is going to make #11 into a great number for Tar Heel WBB.

Great looking roster. Where is Noelle Bofia ? I hope it is just a typo.

 

[tarboy]

I wish we had the height of each player listed on the roster page.

 

[3397char]

Bofia is here, so I guess the press release was botched.. they missed the redshirted player from last season as a "returnee" but she is also not on the recruit list.

edit-
looks like they updated the article:

Women’s Basketball Rolls Out 2026-27 Roster - University of North Carolina Athletics

Coming off its second straight Sweet 16, North Carolina women's basketball is primed for its next great team with the announcement of the 2026-27 roster. Car...

goheels.com

 

[6string]

The goHeels release I saw included Bofia so I am guessing it was just cutoff in the posting. As you stated she is here.

 

[3397char]

Things can change obviously, but looks like we are rolling with 14.

With the five-to-play-five rule pending, there may not be too much room for freshman class recruits this 2027 class cycle.

We have 5 rising seniors on this team's roster, but none of them have taken a redshirt year, so in theory all will gain an additional year of eligibility and can play in 2027-28:

1. Sydney Barker
2. Reniya Kelly
3. Achol Akot
4. Sophie Burrows
5. Chloe Clardy

Note that the retention rate for those entering grad school was less than 50% during the COVID extended eligibility years. Between players who are encouraged to move on with their degree, do not qualify academically for your grad programs, are interested in a different grad program, or are just ready for another school/paycheck, grad students just transfer even more often than undergrads. So it is logical to assume that some players will move on.

But unless they make their intentions known basically before their senior season, you cannot recruit high school seniors over more than maybe 1 or at most 2 players. It becomes a risky business. The transfer portal is too far after HS signing day.

So knowing what we know right now about players leaving, we may have only 1, perhaps 2 spots we are confident will be open for 2027 seniors. I cant see us recruiting more than 3 at most.

Note that Hull and Toomey both did take redshirt years, so they are 4th year rising juniors this year and 2027-28 will also be their 5th and last year. So right now, on paper, we have a whopping 7 who will exhaust eligibility in 2027-28, making for a large 2028 HS class. Of course, in the portal era that will shift, but it is still safe to assume a larger class that year.

 

[DSPHeel]

RK might not get off the bench…

 

[kystroup]

RK might not get off the bench…

Not sure about that, but certainly interested to see how the backcourt rotation plays out

 

[6string]

If RK is healthy she will certainly play. If she can return to previous form I actually think she could play some SG beside Kate. The defensive matchup would probably determine if that was possible.

 

[3397char]

RK might not get off the bench…

Unhealthy RK: sure, that is possible.

Healthy RK: one of the few former All-Conference players returning in the conference wont even make the rotation?

 

[Jriv23]

DSPHeel that is LOL. I know you are kidding right? If RK is healthy which I would suspect she will be since she hardly played this past season, she will be starting. Kate just recently had shoulder surgery so we really do not know if she will be 100% ready at the start of the season. To be honest, I can see RK, CC, KH, GW are rotating in throughout the season. Who the starters will be IDK right now. All four will be competing for those two sports along with SB. There are different combinations CB and staff can roll out with. She can have a big line up at the guard spots or a smaller line up at the guard spots. It all depends on who were are playing against, who has the hot hand, etc.

 

[tarboy]

Kate will start if healthy. Maybe Kate and Reniya start together. RK is a very good shooter from the arc.
She seems to really like shots in the area of the court Lanie Grant made most of her 3's last season..

Kate will with a little learning curve be able to drive it to the rim and score or drive and dish creating great
shots for her teammates. IMO KH is a rare talent and we are blessed to have her as a Tar Heel.

 

[DSPHeel]

Unhealthy RK: sure, that is possible.

Healthy RK: one of the few former All-Conference players returning in the conference wont even make the rotation?

That guard depth is deep. Harping will start and play, either at PG or the 2. The Stanford Xfer will play (and she’s durable). Burrows is either the best or 2nd best outside shooter, she’ll play.
Maybe I’m down on RK after last season, but there’s no guarantee she’ll get major minutes, IMO.

 

[Jriv23]

It is going to be interesting to see who starts, etc. The good news is, if you started last year, there is no guarantee that you will automatically start this year, which means you will have to work your tail off in the offseason in order to separate yourselves from your teammates. This is a good problem to have.

 

[6string]

I‘m excited and cautious about this year. We got bigger overall but I wish there was a clear replacement for Harris. Hoping for individual improvement and a new talent to spark the team. You know who I mean.

 

[Jriv23]

We did get a clear replacement for Harris. Her name is Achol Akot. Here is the information on her. Her position is a Forward.

Achol Akot - Women's Basketball - University of North Carolina Athletics

Achol Akot (8) F - At Oklahoma State 2025-26: Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection … Tabbed as a Kay Yow Servant Leader … Started in all 34 games for Oklah...

goheels.com

 

[Jriv23]

Here is a video on Akot.

 

[6string]

Here is a video on Akot.

Jriv23 I certainly hope you are right and I am excited about her. I just think the size Harris brought will be hard to replicate.

 

[Jriv23]

There are some more videos that were posted by Michelle on another thread. What I kind tell you is this. When she played against Crooks from Iowa State, she out played her both times. She has a long wing span, she runs the floor like AU, She has great hands like NH, and she can finish around the rim which means she rarely miss bunnies around the rim. NH and IN would frequently missed shot at point blank range. Akot makes her. When you read her field goal percentage is at 63.3% which was second in the Big 12 last year. That alone should tell you something. She is a combination of AU and Maria G in one body.

 

[tarboy]

Akot and Kate will look good doing the pick and roll. JMO.