Building Chemistry, Building Champions: UNC Women’s Basketball Opens 2025–26 Practice

Building Chemistry, Building Champions: UNC Women’s Basketball Opens 2025–26 Practice

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — With less than 50 days before tipoff, the energy inside Carmichael Arena felt like March Madness had already arrived. The North Carolina women’s basketball team officially began practice for the 2025–26 season on Monday, blending veteran leadership with a wave of talented newcomers in what promises to be one of the most intriguing campaigns of the Courtney Banghart era.

“It’s interesting, as I told them before today that in the preseason, we want to talk about building chemistry, building trust and getting better,” Banghart said. “This is the competitive season now. Everything we do from this moment forward is about preparing to beat someone else.”

For seniors Nyla Harris and Indya Nivar, it was a bittersweet “last first day.” For freshmen like Elina Aarnisalo and Jordan Zubich, it was the beginning of a journey they’ve dreamed about for years. Together, they’re tasked with building on Carolina’s Sweet 16 run from a season ago  and taking it further.

The Returners: A Core With Firepower

Eight letter winners are back in Chapel Hill, headlined by a trio that accounted for a third of Carolina’s offense last season: Lanie Grant, Reniya Kelly, and Indya Nivar.

• Grant, fresh off an ACC All-Freshman Team honor, showed flashes of being a game-changing shooter, appearing in all 37 games and ranking second on the team in made threes.
• Kelly, entering her junior season, doubled her scoring production from her freshman year and proved herself as one of the league’s most explosive guards. Her back-to-back 20-point outings last season made it clear: she can carry a team when needed.
• Nivar, the defensive backbone, set a program record under Banghart with 68 steals in a single season. Her relentless energy will be vital in slowing down the ACC’s elite backcourts.

The sophomore class — Laila Hull, Blanca Thomas, Ciera Toomey, and Zubich — is expected to make a jump, while junior Sydney Barker adds depth and experience.

The Newcomers: A Blend of Experience and Youth

The Tar Heels’ six newcomers aren’t just filling roster spots — they’re bringing pedigree.

• Elina Aarnisalo, a transfer from UCLA, already has Final Four experience after appearing in 37 games last year.
• Nyla Harris, formerly at Louisville, brings 105 games of ACC battle-tested play.
• Three top-80 recruits, including international talent with professional seasoning, round out a class Banghart hopes will add immediate impact and long-term stability.

“These new faces bring toughness, skill, and a willingness to compete at the highest level,” Banghart noted. “It’s about meshing them with the returners to form a group that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

The Road Ahead: A Brutal Test Early

Carolina won’t ease into this season. Their 13-game non-conference slate includes six NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, five of which advanced beyond the first round. The highlight? An Oct. 30 exhibition clash against South Carolina at State Farm Arena in Atlanta  a game that feels more like a Final Four preview than a preseason warm-up.

The Tar Heels open their regular season at home on Nov. 3 against Elon, with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Field Trip Day.

The Banghart Blueprint

In her seventh season, Courtney Banghart continues to elevate the program’s national standing. Her emphasis this fall is clear: chemistry, toughness, and preparation. She’s asking her veterans to lead and her newcomers to adapt quickly, all while pushing every player to think about March in every drill, every scrimmage, every possession.

“Every rep from here on out is about preparing to beat someone else,” Banghart repeated after practice. That mindset could be the difference between another Sweet 16 exit and a deeper run that Tar Heel fans are craving.

Bottom line: UNC women’s basketball isn’t just reloading  it’s recalibrating with a balance of seasoned stars and hungry newcomers. And with one of the toughest schedules in the country, fans won’t have to wait long to see if this mix has what it takes to deliver something special.