After a 2-0 week for her team in which she averaged 22 points per game, UNC sophomore guard Deja Kelly was named the ACC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Monday. It’s the first time she has earned the honor.

Kelly scored 18 points Thursday evening in an upset over No. 3 Louisville in Carmichael Arena. Her final two points came on a mid-range jumper with under a minute remaining which gave Carolina the lead. She improved on that output Sunday in a win at Florida State, pouring in 26 for the Tar Heels on 9-15 shooting. Kelly also totaled eight rebounds, six assists and four steals between the two games. She played 78 of a possible 80 minutes, including all 40 against the Seminoles.

Kelly leads the Tar Heels in scoring (16.3 points per game) and minutes (31.1 per game). She leads the entire conference in free throw percentage (86.3). Last season, she was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and the All-Academic Team, as well as ACC Freshman of the Week twice.

Kelly and the Tar Heels will be on the road again Thursday night at Virginia before returning to Carmichael Arena for Senior Day and the regular-season finale Sunday afternoon against Duke.

 

Featured image via Associated Press

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Kelly's Career Night Leads UNC Women's Basketball Past Miami
Junior guard Reniya Kelly scored a career-high 24 points to help UNC overcome a halftime deficit and beat visiting Miami 73-62 at Carmichael Arena Thursday night. CROWN HER 👑 A career-high 24 points for Reniya! pic.twitter.com/8ryipYktI7 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 16, 2026 Kelly’s outburst came after the junior from Alabama hadn’t reached double […]
UNC Women's Basketball Falters in 2nd Half in Blowout Loss at Notre Dame
Notre Dame outscored UNC 40-23 in the second half to blow open a close game in South Bend Sunday afternoon and beat the Tar Heels 73-50. It’s Carolina’s second straight loss and its largest margin of defeat since the end of the 2023-24 season. UNC had hung tough for much of the first half, trailing […]
UNC Women's Basketball at Notre Dame (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
The Tar Heels will visit Notre Dame this weekend for a marquee ACC matchup. UNC is seeking its second straight win in South Bend after defeating the Irish in 2024. Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 FM and 1360 AM, or by streaming the radio broadcast on chapelboro.com. 97.9 The […]
Stanford Overcomes Late Deficit, Defeats UNC Women's Basketball in Overtime
Stanford scored the final four points of regulation and then outscored UNC 12-6 in overtime to beat the Tar Heels 77-71 at Carmichael Arena Sunday. It’s UNC’s second home overtime loss of the season. Carolina had held the lead since using a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take a 30-23 advantage. The Tar […]
UNC Women's Basketball vs. Stanford (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it hosts Stanford at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. It will be the first visit the Cardinal have made to Chapel Hill as an ACC foe. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule […]
UNC Women's Basketball Pulls Away in 2nd Half to Beat Cal
UNC rang in the New Year by outscoring Cal 39-21 in the second half to beat the Bears 71-55 at Carmichael Arena Thursday afternoon. Rang in the New Year on Top! 🎉@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/uarQft6Opf — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 1, 2026 The Tar Heels led 9-0 inside the first three minutes, but Cal […]
UNC Women's Basketball Uses Huge Runs to Crush Boston College
UNC used runs of 18-0 and 26-0 to soar past Boston College 90-39 Monday night in its return from the holiday break. The win is Carolina’s first in ACC play this season. 𝗦𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗 to an ACC Road Win!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/TMRkCfdpx7 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 30, 2025 The 18-0 run came after the […]
UNC Women's Basketball Rolls Past Charleston Southern in Non-Conference Finale
Carolina led by 25 points at halftime and cruised from there to a 93-74 win against Charleston Southern at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. It was UNC’s final non-conference game of the regular season. Wrapped up non-conference play with a 𝘿𝙐𝘽 🎁@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/GLT8cDkXr1 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 21, 2025 The Tar Heel […]
UNC Women's Basketball Dominates UNC-Wilmington in 50-Point Win
UNC bounced back from its overtime loss to Louisville last weekend in a big way Wednesday night, beating UNC-Wilmington 84-34 at Carmichael Arena. That's a Carolina 𝑾𝑰𝑵!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/MBSQA4SVcl — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 18, 2025 Carolina’s defense limited the Seahawks all night, forcing UNC-Wilmington into more turnovers (22) than made shots (14) […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Rise to No. 12, Women Drop to No. 18
Both UNC basketball teams moved in the latest AP Polls, which were released Monday. The men’s team rose two spots from No. 14 to No. 12 (its highest of the season), while the women’s team dropped six spots from No. 12 to No. 18 (its lowest of the season). The men’s team played only once […]
›