Alumni News

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Gandeng’s Hungarian A League team played Donarski’s Hungarian A League team in the league quarterfinals



the teams are now tied 1-1 in their series, one will advance, one will be eliminated in Tuesday’s deciding game.


Gakdeng averaging 14.2 pts on 68% shooting, 8.9 rebounds in 25.2 min for Szekszard. Her team is 21-10 and ranked the 50th best team in Eurobasket.


Donarski averaging 12.8 pts, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assts for TFSE-MTK. Her team is 14-9 and ranked 81st team in Eurobasket.


Ustby is averaging A team leading 19.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals for Panthers Roseto. They are not in the Eurobasket top 100 teams at 10-12 but have won the 1st round of the Italy Seríe A tourney (their first time ever making the tourney) and are headed to the semifinals.


Grace Townsend is balling out in Sweden. She averaging 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 3.6 steals for KFUM Ostersund . Her assists and steals lead her conference. No Swedish teams are in the Eurobasket top 100 so I assume this is a 2nd tier league? Her team is 16-8, 4th place in their conference and can clinch the quarterfinal round win with another win today.


Deja Kelly is playing in the Athletes Unlimited developmental league in Nashville where she is currently ranked the 33rd best player in their format.


Carlie Littlefield is averaging 11.1 pts and 3.6 assists for Elitzur Holon in Israel. She has only played 8 game, the last in Dec, so perhaps injured currently or left the team? Her team is top division but is only 9-13.


Littlefield is likely to play FIBA 3x3 again this summer as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: uman1 and tarboy

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Ustby's team loses the semifinals in Italy 0-2 in a best of 3 series.

Game 1: 75-78 loss, she scores game high 22, 10 Reb, 4 assts
Game 2: 63-64 loss she scores game high 24, 10 reb, 3 assts

It was the first year her 6 seeded team has made the Serie A1 playoffs, (they were not in A1 last season, just moved up) lost to the 2 seeded team after beating the 3 seeded team in the quarters.

 
Last edited:

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Donarski's team did end up beating Gakdeng's team in the Hungarian league, but finished 4th.

 
  • Like
Reactions: Mtns2Sea

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Deja Kelly just signed with the Charlotte Crown in the newly minted Upshot League. For those of you who know CLT they will play in Bojangles Coliseum. (Our Dorton Arena, LOL)


"The Crown begins the 2026 UPSHOT League season on the road in Jacksonville this Friday, May 15, before playing its inaugural home opener at Bojangles Coliseum on Thursday, May 21. Opening Night presented by Novant Health begins with Fan Fest in front of the Coliseum from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. followed by tip off at 7 p.m."

The full schedule here:

There are 4 teams in the league this inaugural season: Charlotte, Savannah, Jacksonville and Greensboro. they are adding Baltimore and Nashville this seasn. they bill themselves as a developmental league; not trying to compete directly with the W.


The other 3 teams have not yet announced their roster, so there may still be other Tar Heels like Harris or the any of the three seniors last year? (Though I imagine for Gakdeng it would be an either/or for her South Sudan National Team play and this league.)
 

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Glad they have the league but have to wonder how they pay everyone and keep the lights on.
Start up minor leagues or competing major leagues almost always fail in every sport. The NBDL is subsidized by the NBA and they are fine that it loses money. Other than that it is hard to think of anything other than minor league baseball and the that has worked in the last 40+ years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jriv23 and tarboy

3397char

All-American
Moderator
Jun 30, 2025
2,884
6,061
113
Deja Kelly just signed with the Charlotte Crown in the newly minted Upshot League. For those of you who know CLT they will play in Bojangles Coliseum. (Our Dorton Arena, LOL)


"The Crown begins the 2026 UPSHOT League season on the road in Jacksonville this Friday, May 15, before playing its inaugural home opener at Bojangles Coliseum on Thursday, May 21. Opening Night presented by Novant Health begins with Fan Fest in front of the Coliseum from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. followed by tip off at 7 p.m."

The full schedule here:

There are 4 teams in the league this inaugural season: Charlotte, Savannah, Jacksonville and Greensboro. they are adding Baltimore and Nashville this seasn. they bill themselves as a developmental league; not trying to compete directly with the W.


The other 3 teams have not yet announced their roster, so there may still be other Tar Heels like Harris or the any of the three seniors last year? (Though I imagine for Gakdeng it would be an either/or for her South Sudan National Team play and this league.)
Well I guess I was very wrong because Maria Gakdeng signed with the Greensboro Groove!



Game 1 is at Home on Friday 5/15 at 7 PM, game 2 on Sat at 4pm

 
Last edited: