CC will be a the point coming in for Kate and Gabby W will be at the two backing up who ever starts at the 2. As you stated it could be CC or RK who starts at the two or SB could be at the 2 with her shooting and height. One thing is for sure, we will definitely find out on November 2, 2026. I agree about Noelle. I liked the combination of her and Akot together on the floor. Also, I can see her playing the 5 and Toomey moving at the four.
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We must make our FT's. If one would have made half of them against Maryland in the scrimmage, we would have won the scrimmage. Also, just like the men, we have to do better on the boards. Hopefully with GW, SB, CT being back this will not be a problems anymore. Go Heels!
I’m pretty new to this board but you guys do know that Gabby played against WNBA teams last summer right? She had 16 points and 7 rebounds against the Lynx (one of the best teams in the whole league) and I believe 10 points against the Sparks. The Lynx coach said afterwards that Gabby will definitely be in the WNBA and said that no one on her team could guard her and she’s only 18. Her comp is definitely not Grace Towson but maybe more like Indya Nivar (but a better scorer) as I’ve heard CB mention multiple times. I believe this video is from her dad’s instagram account. She looks like she’s going to play a ton to me.
She lead both teams in rebounds that game. That is insane
I love a rebounding guard.
Lynx 88-79 NIGERIA (Apr 27, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Minnesota Lynx vs. Nigeria WNBA game from April 27, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
www.espn.com
I am convinced she can play. The question still remains: who's minutes would she take?
- Harpring already appears to be exactly what she was projected: 1st team All-ACC level team leader.
- Kelly is a returning 2nd Team All-ACC player, when healthy.
- Brooks was All-ACC freshman team. 20 MPG, 8.6 PPG, best returning 3pt threat. ESPNW #13 2025 recruit.
- Burrows is a 2-year starter for Cuse who averaged 30 MPG, 12 PPG & 6 RPG across those two years on a P4 NCAA tournament team.
- Clardy has 30 career starts for Stanford, averaged 30 MPG over the last 2 years, 11 PPG. 2.5 APG on a winning P4 team.
UVA had the opportunity to play her alongside Kymorah Johnson last year as a two-headed PG. They elected to stick with Paris Clark at the 2. But she did play significant reserve role minutes: 15.5 MPG, 6 PPG, 2 APG, 3 RPG.
Indya Nivar is am apt comparison in terms of her skillset and athleticism. But I was speaking of Townsend as her role on the team: back-up PG. Indya did not start as a soph on a UNC team with less (healthy) total talent than this one. She picked up minutes when we had 3 guards injured and out for the season. She came into a more clear role as a junior, though ironically many on these boards did not think she should start.
This team is going to need 3 pt shooters to identify themselves and step up. With Harpring leading the offense, and a desire to spread out defenses, that means at least two other women on the perimeter that are legit 3 pt threats ready to catch-and-shoot. That will not be Akot, but Akot will play. That may or may not be Toomey. She shot 29.6% last season. taht is certainly not bad for a stretch 5, but not good enough to demand coverage on the perimeter. So that puts a lot of pressure for the women we play at the 2 & 3 to be legit threats. So Hull, Clardy, Brooks, Kelly, Burrows and White: who plays may largely be predicated on who can shoot 35% or better. The first 5 mentioned have done this in at least one season.
White has not. if she develops that skill, then all bets are off and the sky is the limit. It was notable in the 1st exhibition game she had the green light to shoot an open three early in the shot clock. Banghart is going to give her a chance to prove it.
Her 3pt shooting resume is one of three key reasons I see White as a more efficient basketball player at the 1. The other two are pretty great ball handling and driving ability. The third is on-ball defense. But with Kate already the clear top dog on this team, that is a back-up role for White, in my opinion. At least until we have more information.
However, with the little info we do have, I am already convinced she is the 3rd or maybe 2nd best true PG on this team. Above Clardy and Barker. Probably not above Kelly, but I think Kelly will play the 2 to get her talent and shooting ability on the court with Harpring. That is a change from my summer statements when I thought Kelly would consume most all of the back-up PG role whenever Harpring sat.
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I too think Gabby will get serious minutes for a few reasons.
The main one is with our 5 spot injury and productivity issues we will be forced to play smaller. When you do that you want rebounding guards on the floor. Gabby and Harpring are excellent rebounding guards. They both can guard bigger players as well.
It is early, but I am still concerned with RKs game. If she does not return to Soph year RK, I think Gabby is the better option. Of course, the interesting part will be if CB would actually make that change. She is known for her Roy Williams type loyalty.
The main one is with our 5 spot injury and productivity issues we will be forced to play smaller. When you do that you want rebounding guards on the floor. Gabby and Harpring are excellent rebounding guards. They both can guard bigger players as well.
It is early, but I am still concerned with RKs game. If she does not return to Soph year RK, I think Gabby is the better option. Of course, the interesting part will be if CB would actually make that change. She is known for her Roy Williams type loyalty.
I think Nyla Brooks is a 99% lock to be one of the starting wings probably at the 3F spot.
I think CB will want to take some wear and tear off Kate by having the 2G bring the ball up court when not being pressured.
I completely agree about needing at least two excellent 3pt shooters on the court with
Kate spreading the court for her to drive to the basket or to pull up for her mid range
game.
I am relatively positive Sophie Burroughs is going to play big minutes. IMO she is really good plus is 6'2.
I am equally positive that Ciera T will play 20+ minutes a game if she is healthy.
Noelle Bofia is going to get quality minutes when possible to help develop her huge potential.
I am so looking forward to see this team develop into their full potential.
I think CB will want to take some wear and tear off Kate by having the 2G bring the ball up court when not being pressured.
I completely agree about needing at least two excellent 3pt shooters on the court with
Kate spreading the court for her to drive to the basket or to pull up for her mid range
game.
I am relatively positive Sophie Burroughs is going to play big minutes. IMO she is really good plus is 6'2.
I am equally positive that Ciera T will play 20+ minutes a game if she is healthy.
Noelle Bofia is going to get quality minutes when possible to help develop her huge potential.
I am so looking forward to see this team develop into their full potential.
Thanks for posting because a lot of posters said they needed an eye test. Well, this is the eye test. If she did this against two WNBA teams going into her sophomore year then you better believe that CB and I do not what we are talking about. When I told yall that she was the only freshman to be on VA's team last year and she carved out a lot of minutes on a veteran upper-class women team, that alone should tell you something like I have been saying the last few weeks. She is strong, can rebound, and absorb contact, very athletic.
I tried to tell yall this, but you guys acted like you did not believe me or CB. Oh well, this is the proof that you were needing. I will say this one more time. CB said that Gabby can play both guards' spot; therefore, I expect her to carve out minutes at both spots during every game.She lead both teams in rebounds that game. That is insane
Lynx 88-79 NIGERIA (Apr 27, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Minnesota Lynx vs. Nigeria WNBA game from April 27, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
I am convinced she can play. The question still remains: who's minutes would she take?
The fact that White is even in the conversation with the above is a testament to her clear athleticism and upside. She certainly passes the eye test for significant minutes.
- Harpring already appears to be exactly what she was projected: 1st team All-ACC level team leader.
- Kelly is a returning 2nd Team All-ACC player, when healthy.
- Brooks was All-ACC freshman team. 20 MPG, 8.6 PPG, best returning 3pt threat. ESPNW #13 2025 recruit.
- Burrows is a 2-year starter for Cuse who averaged 30 MPG, 12 PPG & 6 RPG across those two years on a P4 NCAA tournament team.
- Clardy has 30 career starts for Stanford, averaged 30 MPG over the last 2 years, 11 PPG. 2.5 APG on a winning P4 team.
UVA had the opportunity to play her alongside Kymorah Johnson last year as a two-headed PG. They elected to stick with Paris Clark at the 2. But she did play significant reserve role minutes: 15.5 MPG, 6 PPG, 2 APG, 3 RPG.
Indya Nivar is am apt comparison in terms of her skillset and athleticism. But I was speaking of Townsend as her role on the team: back-up PG. Indya did not start as a soph on a UNC team with less (healthy) total talent than this one. She picked up minutes when we had 3 guards injured and out for the season. She came into a more clear role as a junior, though ironically many on these boards did not think she should start.
This team is going to need 3 pt shooters to identify themselves and step up. With Harpring leading the offense, and a desire to spread out defenses, that means at least two other women on the perimeter that are legit 3 pt threats ready to catch-and-shoot. That will not be Akot, but Akot will play. That may or may not be Toomey. She shot 29.6% last season. taht is certainly not bad for a stretch 5, but not good enough to demand coverage on the perimeter. So that puts a lot of pressure for the women we play at the 2 & 3 to be legit threats. So Hull, Clardy, Brooks, Kelly, Burrows and White: who plays may largely be predicated on who can shoot 35% or better. The first 5 mentioned have done this in at least one season.
White has not. if she develops that skill, then all bets are off and the sky is the limit. It was notable in the 1st exhibition game she had the green light to shoot an open three early in the shot clock. Banghart is going to give her a chance to prove it.
Her 3pt shooting resume is one of three key reasons I see White as a more efficient basketball player at the 1. The other two are pretty great ball handling and driving ability. The third is on-ball defense. But with Kate already the clear top dog on this team, that is a back-up role for White, in my opinion. At least until we have more information.
However, with the little info we do have, I am already convinced she is the 3rd or maybe 2nd best true PG on this team. Above Clardy and Barker. Probably not above Kelly, but I think Kelly will play the 2 to get her talent and shooting ability on the court with Harpring. That is a change from my summer statements when I thought Kelly would consume most all of the back-up PG role whenever Harpring sat.
I don't think the history bears out this perceived reputation. Tshitenge & Poole were quality starters who lost their jobs to younger, newer players. She has started a ton of freshmen and first year transfers in her career. And she has never been afraid to recruit over people already on the roster, including with transfers.
I think it is fair to say that she places a major premium on defensive skill and competence, which to us fans appears to leave young players with offensive promise on the bench longer than some would like.
Speaking of Kelly specifically, the staff has held her out of a ton of games or capped her minutes in her career. I assume that is consistently at the advice of medical, but I think many coaches would have road one of their top players more than we did here. Soph Grant and soph transfer Aarnisalo took a ton of her minutes last season. Both were first year starters.
Please quote any post where I said White would not play or is not an ACC level contributor. I have consistently said that if you declare as a fact that player X is going to play major minutes, you need to declare a player Y who is going to sit. I am not willing to make any such prognostications yet. Instead you say that nearly everyone with the label "guard" next to their name on the roster will get major minutes.
If you want to take a victory lap later on, go ahead and put some average January/February minutes next to each name now.
I wouldn’t be so caught up with what players did last season or in high school. That’s pretty irrelevant for this team and this season. Players work on weaknesses all offseason. It seems to me that CB was focused on 3 point shooting in the past but relying heavily on the 3 will only take you so far because it’s easy to take away. That’s why the ceiling with that style has been the sweet 16. I can’t think of any teams that make it to the final 4 relying heavily on the 3 (besides Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team). Also, the fan base needs to calm down on crowing Kate as the next Ivory Latta. Let’s let her grow into that roll instead of putting all of that pressure on the kid after 1 good exhibition game. From my perspective, she’s not a PG at this stage of her career. Based on the struggles I saw during the Davidson game she had when trying to run the point, she definitely has a ways to go at that position. PG’s also need to make teammmates better and Kate has an attacking mindset that doesn’t lead to creating for her teammates often. She is a GREAT scorer so I believe that is the roll CB will give her unless we are playing weaker competition. I wouldn’t definitely play her off the ball and use action and screens to get her to her spots so she can be a efficient scorer.She lead both teams in rebounds that game. That is insane
Lynx 88-79 NIGERIA (Apr 27, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Minnesota Lynx vs. Nigeria WNBA game from April 27, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
I am convinced she can play. The question still remains: who's minutes would she take?
The fact that White is even in the conversation with the above is a testament to her clear athleticism and upside. She certainly passes the eye test for significant minutes.
- Harpring already appears to be exactly what she was projected: 1st team All-ACC level team leader.
- Kelly is a returning 2nd Team All-ACC player, when healthy.
- Brooks was All-ACC freshman team. 20 MPG, 8.6 PPG, best returning 3pt threat. ESPNW #13 2025 recruit.
- Burrows is a 2-year starter for Cuse who averaged 30 MPG, 12 PPG & 6 RPG across those two years on a P4 NCAA tournament team.
- Clardy has 30 career starts for Stanford, averaged 30 MPG over the last 2 years, 11 PPG. 2.5 APG on a winning P4 team.
UVA had the opportunity to play her alongside Kymorah Johnson last year as a two-headed PG. They elected to stick with Paris Clark at the 2. But she did play significant reserve role minutes: 15.5 MPG, 6 PPG, 2 APG, 3 RPG.
Indya Nivar is am apt comparison in terms of her skillset and athleticism. But I was speaking of Townsend as her role on the team: back-up PG. Indya did not start as a soph on a UNC team with less (healthy) total talent than this one. She picked up minutes when we had 3 guards injured and out for the season. She came into a more clear role as a junior, though ironically many on these boards did not think she should start.
This team is going to need 3 pt shooters to identify themselves and step up. With Harpring leading the offense, and a desire to spread out defenses, that means at least two other women on the perimeter that are legit 3 pt threats ready to catch-and-shoot. That will not be Akot, but Akot will play. That may or may not be Toomey. She shot 29.6% last season. taht is certainly not bad for a stretch 5, but not good enough to demand coverage on the perimeter. So that puts a lot of pressure for the women we play at the 2 & 3 to be legit threats. So Hull, Clardy, Brooks, Kelly, Burrows and White: who plays may largely be predicated on who can shoot 35% or better. The first 5 mentioned have done this in at least one season.
White has not. if she develops that skill, then all bets are off and the sky is the limit. It was notable in the 1st exhibition game she had the green light to shoot an open three early in the shot clock. Banghart is going to give her a chance to prove it.
Her 3pt shooting resume is one of three key reasons I see White as a more efficient basketball player at the 1. The other two are pretty great ball handling and driving ability. The third is on-ball defense. But with Kate already the clear top dog on this team, that is a back-up role for White, in my opinion. At least until we have more information.
However, with the little info we do have, I am already convinced she is the 3rd or maybe 2nd best true PG on this team. Above Clardy and Barker. Probably not above Kelly, but I think Kelly will play the 2 to get her talent and shooting ability on the court with Harpring. That is a change from my summer statements when I thought Kelly would consume most all of the back-up PG role whenever Harpring sat.
Great discussion, appreciate it!
The point of 3pt shooting is not so much that it will be your go-to scoring method to win every game. It must be a threat to spread out a defense. You say it is not important because opposing teams can take it away. i say that leads to its importance, because by taking it away, it opens up the paint for dribble drives (Harpring) and post entries (Akot). The viable threat of the 3pt shot creates offensive efficiency. Much like a balanced offense in football: you cant pick your poison when all options will kill.
The alternative is 2023-24 when we could not hit a 3 outside of Donarski, opposing teams packed the paint, and our offensive efficiency plummeted. . We had to play a pretty one-dimensional Zelaya extensively just to create offensive opportunity. Our adjusted Offensive efficiency (Torvik) was 54th nationally, which is not winning basketball. That team still had Ustby, Gakdeng, D Kelly and Donarski: all proven scorers. But it was missing 3 pt threats (partly due to injury.)
Back to this season: If i am playing defense against Harpring, Akot, White (given her current history of not taking 3's), and 2 below average or average 3 pt shooters, then I am packing the paint, perhaps going full zone.
I fully agree that we should not look at what players did in high school. But I think what players have done previously at the P4 level is the best data we have at this point.
As for Harpring, I disagree. The Davidson game was not efficient. I will give you that. but her 29 points against a ranked MD team ties Deja Kelly's 2nd best career high, over a full 4 year career (she scored 32 points once versus Cuse). Deja Kelly is arguably the best offensive player we've had over Banghart's tenure. No other player during teh Banghart era has scored 29. Maybe that is an anomaly, but i suspect that Harpring is the real deal. She certainly has shown much more than anyone else this preseason. And perhaps just as important, she has shown what role the coaching staff is willing to let her take: The unquestioned focal point of our offense.
We are beyond blessed to have Kate H. Do not ever forget it. She is a scoring PG. She can play 2G if it makes the team work better but she is a natural leader. If her goal was to be a pass first PG I am sure she would be great at that.
Fortunately for us she is a great scorer of the ball, the best this team has IMO. Give her a little time but there is a reason Kate is the only freshman on the Naismith Watchlist.
Jriv, on Gabby White I still cannot wait to see her play for the Tar Heels. I hope she is so good she is hands down the starter along side Kate.
Fortunately for us she is a great scorer of the ball, the best this team has IMO. Give her a little time but there is a reason Kate is the only freshman on the Naismith Watchlist.
Jriv, on Gabby White I still cannot wait to see her play for the Tar Heels. I hope she is so good she is hands down the starter along side Kate.
Based upon the video posted above, Gabby White will provide a spark to this team. She appears to have intangibles that will only benefit this team as the season progresses. Some will disagree but Gabby would be an asset paying with Kate Harping, still unsure about what R. Kelly will be able to provide going forward. Still holding out hope that she will return to her sophomore form, but it's not looking good.
If Gabby has developed a 3pt shot to go with her ability to drive and defensive ability maybe she and Kate make a great backcourt combo. I hope so.
We IMO need a 3pt threat to go in one corner along with Nyla B in the other corner to spread the court to allow Kate or Gabby if she is in the game to be able to drive the ball to the rim.
Ideally another 3 point threat from the 4 and 5 position giving us 4 3pt threats and a real spread court would be great.
I guess we will see what Coach CB is thinking in the first game. Then we go from there as things can change as players step up their game.
We IMO need a 3pt threat to go in one corner along with Nyla B in the other corner to spread the court to allow Kate or Gabby if she is in the game to be able to drive the ball to the rim.
Ideally another 3 point threat from the 4 and 5 position giving us 4 3pt threats and a real spread court would be great.
I guess we will see what Coach CB is thinking in the first game. Then we go from there as things can change as players step up their game.
Hi tarboy, we have that with Sophia B. She is known for her shooting ability at 6'2" or 6'3" tall. That is what she did at Syracuse the last two years. Go and look at the clips. We have that to go along with NB. Don't forget L. Hull can shoot it as well.
I found this quote by CB just now about Gabby W and Sophia B.
Banghart said that White and Burrows would have played if Saturday had been a regular-season game. “They’ve got a little tweak that that’ll be fine,” Banghart said. “But if it was go time, they would be playing.” Toomey, however, “probably” would have still missed the game, Banghart said. The senior, who averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels last season, is getting “close,” Banghart said. This is nice to know.
Banghart said that White and Burrows would have played if Saturday had been a regular-season game. “They’ve got a little tweak that that’ll be fine,” Banghart said. “But if it was go time, they would be playing.” Toomey, however, “probably” would have still missed the game, Banghart said. The senior, who averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels last season, is getting “close,” Banghart said. This is nice to know.
Hello Tar Heel Pal Jriv. I know all about Sophie. She is good and has the reputation of being a real good 3pt shooter. What I cannot decide is what position she will play. I think she is a natural 3F with good size. I don't see Nyla also a 6'1 3F not playing 25+ minutes.
I know Sophie see's herself as able to play 2/3/4 the question is when she is on the court who sits? I wonder since she has been working on her low post game if she could see some time at the 5(with Toomey out) in addition to the possibility of time at the 2/3/4. Sophie could start at the 2G but that knocks our Kelly, Clardy, White who also slot in at the 2G.
Big Question I guess we find out in part Monday.
I know Sophie see's herself as able to play 2/3/4 the question is when she is on the court who sits? I wonder since she has been working on her low post game if she could see some time at the 5(with Toomey out) in addition to the possibility of time at the 2/3/4. Sophie could start at the 2G but that knocks our Kelly, Clardy, White who also slot in at the 2G.
Big Question I guess we find out in part Monday.
That is a very good question. I can see Akot going to the 5 if CT cannot play on Monday, Sophia at the 4, NB at the 3, RK or CC at the 2 and Kate at the 1 or I can see if RK is not at 100% and CT does not play on Monday, Noelle at the 5, Akot at the 4, NB at the 3, SB at the 2 and Kate at the 1. That would be a big line up. As you stated, we will find out on Monday for sure.
I expect to see Gabby White matched up on Chavez for OK quite a bit. We’ll need her athleticism and physicality defensively. Free up Harpring to do her thing a little bit. I also think Bofia needs all the minutes we can give her. She impacted the game tremendously on both sides of the ball in limited minutes against MD. If Toomey’s limited, Bofia is our best answer. Can’t teach what she brings to the game. We need to develop her. Quickly.
Yeah, I did not think about this. Yeah, I would definitely put Gabby on Chavey quite a bit and free up Kate some on the defensively. Thanks for stating that. I can see this happening. Go Heels!
Yes I hope this is the case. Hope to really lock her down. Hopefully our length will get her also.
This is an internet message board. Nothing but typed word salads. Games are coming. The games will show out. First game is only the first game. I am excited for a start. To me nothing said here re now, the last season, or what somebody says will be the future. Nothing personal. I do not know one single poster here; no one’s words matter squat to me pre season. I hope Carolina has top 10 potential. If we cannot be #1 in the little acc we ain’t there yet. Wins in the court will matter. There is nobody I have seen on this team that will be first team conference in the post based on past play. Time for somebody to show up. Toomey might, has not done that yet. Otherwise nobody has showed anything. I never watched anybody for one minute at U A, Kansas Tech, or whatever. I just wait to see how they might play for Carolina, SOON. But not yet. It has been a long time since I saw a top tier women’s bb team at Carolina. Team, show me w? Talk all you want. It will be a long season. Hope we win a lot of games. Dean Smith comment:” other teams also have scholarship players. They wast to win too.” Doing is different than talking about doing.
how good are the best you got. THE story.
We will know soon Nic. You are correct it will come down to our best vs their best.
The interesting thing to many of us is we (outside of Kate H and Nyla B) are not real sure yet who our best players are. LOl.
If all are healthy enough to go we will know lots more Monday pm.
The interesting thing to many of us is we (outside of Kate H and Nyla B) are not real sure yet who our best players are. LOl.
If all are healthy enough to go we will know lots more Monday pm.
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