UNC women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart found herself in hot water yesterday for comments made about NC State’s program. During a recent appearance on “British Tar Heel” George Harmer’s online show, Banghart was asked about the rivalries between the Tar Heels, Wolfpack and Duke Blue Devils.

“I hate both of them more than probably I should because I don’t have the history that everybody else has,” Banghart said. “Duke is a national and international rivalry that I love. NC State fans are so classless, I don’t even like going there, right? So, I don’t know. It’s a hard one.”

Banghart went on to say she respects Duke more for being more “relevant,” while simply stating NC State fans are “mean.”

Banghart’s comments, of course, caused a stir among Triangle fans. Harmer has since scrubbed the answer from his video of the interview, and Banghart issued an apology both through the UNC Women’s Basketball Twitter account and her own personal account.

“While intending to keep the competitive energy fueled between two passionate fan bases, I took it too far,” Banghart’s statement read. “I carelessly used the word ‘classless’ in reference to the passionate fans of NC State and I deeply regret my word choice.

“Everyone involved in my program, NC State’s program and the communities at both schools deserves better,” Banghart concluded. “And you will get it from me moving forward.”

Though UNC’s conference schedule for next season has not yet been revealed, the Tar Heels have traditionally played both NC State and Duke twice. The Wolfpack swept Carolina last season, and Banghart has a 2-4 record against them in her three seasons in Chapel Hill.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Gerry Broome

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
‹
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Rise to No. 11, Women Rise to No. 21
After the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams each picked up big wins last week, both squads have risen in the latest edition of the AP Poll. The men’s team rose three spots to No. 11, while the women’s team rose four spots to No. 21. For the men, No. 11 is the team’s highest […]
UNC Women's Basketball Cruises Past Wake Forest for 7th Straight Win
UNC used a 16-0 run in the first quarter to take control at Wake Forest Sunday afternoon and rolled from there to an 84-56 win against the Demon Deacons. It’s Carolina’s seventh win in a row and its 20th on the season. Keep it Rolling – 𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 Straight!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/17TBFQQo3p — Carolina Women's Basketball […]
UNC Women's Basketball Grinds Past Clemson to Win 6th Straight Game
UNC’s defense held Clemson without a made basket for the final 9:01 of Thursday’s game at Carmichael Arena, and the Tar Heels rode that lockdown performance to a 53-44 win against the Tigers. Tigers 𝙏𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿. Six straight wins!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/MnAk9x3EC4 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) February 6, 2026 In a game where neither team […]
Financial Report Shows UNC Athletics Operated at $15 Million Deficit in 2024-25 Year
The newest financial report from the UNC athletic department to the NCAA shows the department operated at a deficit of more than $15 million during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The department reported revenues of $172,951,034 and reported expenses of $187,967,260. The UNC athletic department had operated at a profit in each of the past three […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Up to No. 14, Women Back in at No. 25
Both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams are ranked in the latest editions of the AP Poll, which were released Monday. The men (17-4, 5-3 ACC) rose two spots to No. 14, while the women (17-5, 6-3 ACC) are back in the poll at No. 25 after three consecutive weeks unranked. The men played […]
UNC Men's Basketball Rises to No. 16 in Latest AP Poll
After a home win against Notre Dame and a road win at then-No. 14 Virginia, UNC rose six spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll to No. 16 this week. UNC’s six-spot jump is the largest of any team in the poll. After dropping to No. 22 following road losses at unranked Stanford and […]
UNC Women's Basketball Outlasts Syracuse in Overtime for 4th Consecutive Win
Despite UNC going the final 3:34 of regulation without a point and losing an eight-point lead in the final minutes, the Tar Heels did just enough in overtime to beat Syracuse 77-71 in overtime Sunday at Carmichael Arena. It’s UNC’s fourth straight win. 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗖 𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦 🩵@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/JxzP6hDOxf — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January […]
UNC Women's Basketball Beats Georgia Tech to Record 3rd Straight Win
A dominant rebounding advantage and a suffocating defensive performance helped UNC beat Georgia Tech 54-46 in Atlanta Thursday night and record its third straight ACC win. Road 𝗗𝗨𝗕 Secured!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/aU2R7eVHfx — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 23, 2026 UNC limited the Yellow Jackets to 31.7 percent shooting (18-57) for the game, doing just […]
UNC Women's Basketball Dominates in Win at Florida State
UNC used a 12-0 run in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead at halftime Sunday afternoon at Florida State, and the Tar Heels didn’t look back in the second half on their way to an 82-55 victory. Sunshine State 𝑺𝑾𝑬𝑷𝑻.@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/gWaSz43yRC — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 18, 2026 Elina Aarnisalo […]
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 […]
›