There are still another three-and-a-half months until North Carolina women’s basketball gets under way for the 2023-24 season, but head coach Courtney Banghart said she’s already excited about where this year’s Tar Heels team could go.
Even without knowing UNC’s full schedule, Banghart said she’s noticed something different with the team. After finishing last season 22-11 (11-7 ACC), the Tar Heels have added eight new members — five freshmen and three transfers — heading into the new season.
“They understand they fell short of their goals last year, and I think they’ve been really internal about what they need to do to be better moving forward,” Banghart said, “and it’s just been fun.”
Banghart spoke to the media Wednesday to give her insight on the team’s new members, the maturation of women’s basketball across the country — and its effect on the Tar Heels — along with the three student-athletes representing Team USA in summer tournaments.
UNC’s new faces, new stories
The eight newest faces wearing Carolina blue have their own journeys that brought them to Chapel Hill, and Banghart shared two stories to hint at what she believes can bring a new element to the Tar Heels’ game.
First was graduate student Lexi Donarski, a transfer from Iowa State. Banghart said she hadn’t recruited Donarski prior to the guard entering the portal, but was scouting her any time Carolina and Iowa State faced off.
“It’s a kid I’ve been able to see and scout against, and she’s a kid you worry about every time,” Banghart said. “Because you know, she’s gonna be on your best offensive player.”
Donarski’s parents are coaches, and during her time in the portal, the three of them requested to go to three Carolina games. Donarki eventually narrowed her options down and chose the Tar Heels in April.
Banghart said Donarski brings strong lateral movement to the roster, as well as length. However, the new graduate transfer hasn’t been in Chapel Hill too much yet, having just returned from representing Team USA in the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series.
“She’s got an enormous amount of experience, minutes played multiple positions,” Banghart said. “I think we play with a little more freedom than she’s used to. So, you know, it’s been fun for us to say, ‘No, no, that’s a good time for you to attack’ or ‘This is great.’”
The other story Banghart shared was about freshman Sydney Barker, who’s originally from Durham. Barker had aspirations to join the Tar Heels from a young age. With both her parents among the school’s alumni, she cold-called Banghart asking for an opportunity.
“She calls me in the fall and says, ‘Coach would you ever consider letting me walk on?’ ” Banghart said. “And I was like, ‘Let me ask.’ And Liz Roberts was a walk-on that I gave a scholarship to, so I needed to know what that all entailed.”
After looking into the process, Banghart offered Barker an opportunity to join as a walk-on following acceptance into the university in January. Barker had received mid-major offers, Banghart said, but was entirely committed to the idea of playing in Carolina blue.
Banghart attended Barker’s high school senior night, where she scored 46 points.
“I think she’s a really special addition,” Banghart said. “She’s adored by her teammates and this Carolina blue means something to her. And so you have that in the locker room every day, as well as a kid that can score you know, it’s a win.”
Barker is a slightly undersized guard, standing 5-foot-7, but Banghart said her ability to score and her personality as a teammate has allowed Barker to blend in seamlessly with the others.
Growing the game
While the team’s full schedule hasn’t been released yet, a few matchups have been announced. The ACC/SEC Challenge set up a Carolina home game against South Carolina. With a matchup against UConn announced in principle in August 2022, and a potential game against Iowa, Banghart said she feels the team is ready to take on a difficult nonconference schedule.
Banghart said she also feels excited to play during this era of women’s basketball after the excitement it’s garnered nationally. She said there’s an “appetite for the game” following the success of last year’s NCAA Final Four, and it sets the stage perfectly for the eventual home game in Carmichael Arena.
“I’m so proud to be a part of the game at this time, Banghart said. “And it’s maturation because the product is so good.”
Banghart said she’s not sure what her team will truly look like on the court just yet, but that the games already announced will set up the Tar Heels for ACC play and potentially, the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s awesome for our game,” she said. “And there’s many coaches and players that have been a part of it to get it to where it is right now. And I I’m just thrilled that I can even be a small piece of that. Now we’re trying to bring it to the next level.”
Representing Team USA
Three Tar Heels are representing Team USA this summer: Donarski, Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby.
Kelly has been in Mexico, participating with the U.S. AmeriCup Team. The tournament runs through July 9, and Kelly scored nine points, with three rebounds and four assists in her debut game.
Donarski and Ustby were selected to the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series as members of the U24 roster. It was Donaraski’s 3x3 debut, while Ustby was on the U23 team previously.
Banghart said she found out those three made Team USA the same time the players did, after being copied on an email. She said she welcomes the experience for those athletes, getting the opportunity to learn from new coaches and playing with new teammates.
“I think anytime you play with other good players and also you get coached by other good coaches, it kind of reminds you sometimes to be thankful for what you got,” Banghart said. “Because they love it here and we’ve got a great thing going from our connection with one another, but they also see different styles.”
The Tar Heels will reunite for preseason training later this summer, with a full schedule announced at a later date.
“My job is to do what’s right for this program every single day,” Banghart said. “And that doesn’t mean it’s always right for you, or for you or for you, but it’s what’s right for this program. And so the fact that we have more talent means our practices can be more competitive, it means we’ve got more depth, it means there’s more iron sharpens iron.”
