The UNC women’s basketball team’s 8-0 record is starting to turn heads around the country.
Head coach Courtney Banghart and the rest of the Tar Heels have passed every test with flying colors since the beginning of the season, and according to the NCAA’s metrics, it appears to be no fluke. The first NET ratings, which replaced the RPI metric and is used to diagnose a team’s overall quality and predict postseason seedings, have Carolina ranked No. 2 in the country. The Tar Heels trail only South Carolina, who are the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in all major polls.
Carolina is the highest-rated ACC team in the NET, ahead of perennial powers such as NC State (No. 3) and Louisville (No. 6). To view the full NET ratings, click here.
Among other things, NET ratings take into account strength of schedule, game location (UNC has played five of eight games away from Chapel Hill this season), scoring margin (UNC has won seven of eight games this season by double digits) and offensive and defensive efficiency. Despite the gaudy rating, UNC remained unranked in Monday’s newest AP Top 25 poll. The Tar Heels are in the “Receiving Votes” category, effectively making them the No. 29 team.
In response to the disparity between the NET and AP rankings, Banghart tweeted a graphic of the NET rating and said, “Earned, not given.”
Carolina did debut in the latest women’s basketball Coaches Poll, however, checking in at No. 24. It is their first appearance in the Coaches Poll since October 29, 2015. Once again, Banghart shared her thoughts on the poll via social media.
UNC will have a chance to defend its ranking on Sunday when UNC-Asheville visits Carmichael Arena. The program has not started 9-0 since the 2014-15 season. To view the full Coaches Poll, click here.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Basketball Ranked No. 12 in 2026-27 AP Preseason PollHead coach Courtney Banghart and UNC checked in at No. 12 in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released Tuesday. It’s the third consecutive year and fourth overall in Banghart’s tenure that the Tar Heels have been ranked inside the top 15 in the preseason poll. Comin' in at No. 𝟭𝟮 in the […]
UNC Women's Basketball Beats Davidson in Preseason ExhibitionA 12-0 run in the second quarter helped UNC overcome an early deficit and beat Davidson 76-66 in a preseason exhibition at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. That's a preseason 𝘿𝙐𝘽!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/jQ6yUzYrri — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 18, 2026 The 12-0 Tar Heel run flipped a 23-20 deficit into a 32-23 lead in […]
UNC Women's Basketball Picked 3rd in ACC; Kate Harpring Receives Preseason HonorUNC was picked to finish third in the ACC in the league’s preseason poll Tuesday. The Tar Heels received one of 76 first-place votes. Duke, which is coming off consecutive conference titles, sits at No. 1 in the preseason poll with 49 first-place votes. No. 2 Louisville (22 votes) is next, followed by UNC and […]
5-Star Guard Ryan Carter Commits to UNC Women's BasketballAnother highly coveted prospect will be joining the Tar Heels next season. Ryan Carter, who 247 Sports rates as a five-star recruit and the No. 10 overall player in her class, announced her commitment to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Monday evening. Carter is the second five-star recruit from the Class of 2027 to […]
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
Micah Ojo, No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Recruiting Class, Commits to UNC Women's BasketballMicah Ojo, who ESPN rates as a five-star prospect and the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2027 class, announced her commitment to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Thursday. Ojo also held offers from Duke and Vanderbilt. View this post on Instagram A 6-foot-1 wing originally from Virginia Beach, Ojo is described by ESPN […]
UNC Women's Basketball Announces 2026-27 ACC ScheduleThe UNC women’s basketball program announced the ACC portion of its 2026-27 regular season schedule Wednesday afternoon. 18 games to make some 𝙉𝙊𝙄𝙎𝙀. pic.twitter.com/ohLCnlv0W0 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) September 2, 2026 The Tar Heels will play three ACC games before the New Year, two of which will come at Carmichael Arena. The conference schedule […]
UNC Women's Basketball to Host Davidson for Preseason Exhibition October 18UNC will host Davidson for a preseason exhibition Oct. 18 at Carmichael Arena, the program announced Wednesday. It will be the only exhibition on the Tar Heels’ 2026-27 schedule. A tip-off time is yet to be announced. Preseason Basketball? 𝙋𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙊𝙉 𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙆𝙀𝙏𝘽𝘼𝙇𝙇. See you October 18! pic.twitter.com/8YrY1YAsGj — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 26, 2026 The […]
Non-Conference Schedule Set for UNC Women's Basketball's 2026-27 SeasonThe UNC women’s basketball program has confirmed its full non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 regular season. You asked, we answered. The non-conference schedule is 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀! 📰 | https://t.co/OEnIKLy7Dt🎟️ | Season tickets on-sale SOON! pic.twitter.com/ClynYQpKSG — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) July 30, 2026 Several of the Tar Heels’ fixtures have already been announced: UNC will face […]
UNC Women's Basketball to Face Texas Tech, Alabama at WBCA ShowcaseThe UNC women’s basketball program has added two more games to its non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season. The Tar Heels will face Texas Tech and Alabama as part of the WBCA Showcase in Orlando this November. Adding a Dash of Carolina Blue to the Happiest Place on Earth ✨ 📰 | https://t.co/zWPDqLzjnV pic.twitter.com/bQ51fNumF8 — […]
›
