Tar Heels Surge to USBWA Team of the Week Behind Statement Wins and Defensive Grit
The North Carolina women’s basketball team just wrapped up one of its most impressive weeks of the season-and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association took notice, naming the No.
21 Tar Heels their Team of the Week. And honestly, it’s hard to argue with that pick.
Over a seven-day stretch, Carolina rattled off three wins that showcased not just their depth, but their resilience and defensive identity. The week began with a long-awaited breakthrough: a 61-59 win over rival NC State in Chapel Hill, their first home victory over the Wolfpack since 2019.
That one came with some serious grit. The Heels trailed by nine at one point and were down four at halftime, but they flipped the script with an 18-8 third-quarter run that set the tone for the rest of the game.
Lanie Grant was the engine in that one, dropping a team-high 18 points and sparking the offense just when Carolina needed it most. More than just a rivalry win, this was Carolina’s first Quadrant 1 victory of the season-a critical resume booster as we inch closer to March.
Two days later, the Tar Heels returned to Carmichael Arena and locked in defensively to grind out a 53-44 win over Clemson. This one was all about grit and hustle.
Nyla Harris put up her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 boards, but it was the defense that stole the show. Carolina held Clemson without a field goal for the final nine minutes of the game.
That’s not a typo-nine minutes without a single bucket. That kind of defensive lockdown doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the product of a team that’s bought in on both ends of the floor.
Then came the exclamation point. On Sunday, Carolina made the short trip to Winston-Salem and absolutely handled Wake Forest, 84-56-their largest margin of victory against the Demon Deacons since Courtney Banghart took over as head coach.
The offense came alive in this one, led by freshman Nyla Brooks, who erupted for a career-high 21 points, hitting five threes and crashing the glass for a personal-best seven rebounds. It was a breakout performance that added another layer to Carolina’s already versatile rotation.
Indya Nivar was everywhere, filling up the box score with nine points, eight rebounds, and tying her career high with seven assists. It was the kind of all-around performance that speaks volumes about her impact beyond just scoring.
With the sweep, the Tar Heels notched their 20th win of the season-marking their fifth straight 20-win campaign, tying their longest such streak since the 2010-11 to 2014-15 run. They’ve now won seven straight ACC games, a feat they’ve pulled off three times in the last four seasons. That’s consistency, and it’s coming at the perfect time.
Next up: Carolina returns home Thursday to face SMU, one of the newest additions to the ACC. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET at Carmichael Arena, with the game airing on ACC Network.
If the Tar Heels keep playing like this-balanced, tough, and locked in on defense-don’t be surprised if they keep climbing.