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
‹
'Bringing the Legacy Back': Highlights from UNC Women's Basketball's Day at the ACC Tipoff
UNC head coach Courtney Banghart, guard Reniya Kelly and wing Indya Nivar spoke at the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte Monday afternoon. The Tar Heels are coming off a run to the Sweet 16 last spring, which also saw the program host NCAA Tournament games in Carmichael Arena for the first time since 2015. Here are […]
UNC Women's Basketball Announces 2025-26 ACC Schedule
The ACC announced the full 2025-26 conference schedule for all women’s basketball programs Tuesday afternoon. As was the case during the 2024-25 season, UNC will play 18 conference games, facing 16 teams once and rival Duke twice. Been waiting on this one… The ACC schedule is 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀! pic.twitter.com/EKw7G5eVCY — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) September 2, […]
UNC Women's Basketball's Kayla McPherson Announces Retirement Following Knee Injuries
Guard Kayla McPherson of the UNC women’s basketball program officially announced her retirement from basketball Tuesday, citing multiple knee injuries and long recovery periods. The redshirt senior will remain with the team as a student assistant. 11 Out 🩵 pic.twitter.com/hfHxsvKE52 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 26, 2025 A McDonald’s All-American at Madison County High […]
5-Star Prospect Kate Harpring Commits to UNC Women's Basketball
Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels may have just won their biggest recruiting battle ever. Point guard Kate Harpring, a five-star prospect from Atlanta ranked among the top five players in the 2026 recruiting class on every major board, committed to Banghart and UNC Saturday. Go Tar Heels!! 🩵🩵#committed pic.twitter.com/RbzpiYqJOZ — Kate Harpring (@Kate_Harpring26) August […]
UNC Women's Basketball Announces Full 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
The UNC women’s basketball team announced its full slate of non-conference games for the 2025-26 regular season Tuesday morning. The wait is over… Our Non-Conference schedule is 𝙎𝙀𝙏 📅 pic.twitter.com/8fp72vNR9Q — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) August 5, 2025 UNC begins with a preseason exhibition game against 2025 national runners-up South Carolina in Atlanta on October […]
UNC Women's Basketball to Compete in WBCA Challenge in Las Vegas
Head coach Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels are heading out west early in the 2025-26 season. UNC will compete in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Challenge in Las Vegas this coming November, facing UCLA and Fairfield. The games will be played at Michelob ULTRA Arena, home of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, with […]
Courtney Banghart Praises UNC's Newcomers, Deeper Roster: 'Our Offense Will Be Quite Different'
Less than four months before her team opens up its 2025-26 season, UNC women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart is already forecasting the group as one of the deepest and most competitive rosters she’s ever assembled. “I would be very surprised if our rotation was anywhere near as tight as it has been,” Banghart told […]
UNC Women's Basketball to Face South Carolina in Preseason Exhibition
The UNC women’s basketball team will face South Carolina in a preseason exhibition game in Atlanta on Thursday, October 30. The game will be played in State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. See you in the ATL 👋 pic.twitter.com/DmpCp88lIG — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) July 29, 2025 South Carolina has won the […]
UNC Women's Basketball to Play in 2025 Cancun Challenge
UNC will join three other programs to play in the 2025 Cancun Challenge in Mexico this November. The Tar Heels will be joined by Columbia, Kansas State and South Dakota State south of the border as part of the challenge’s Mayan Tournament. Break out the passports – The Heels are heading to Cancun! pic.twitter.com/WibQ1gWw26 — […]
Check Out the Complete Schedule for UNC's 'ACC Network Takeover' July 8
The ACC Network will feature 24 hours of Tar Heel highlights from the 2024-25 athletic year Tuesday as part of its annual “ACC Network Takeover.” Programming begins at midnight and lasts through 11:59 p.m. Featured games include the women’s basketball team’s win against No. 10 NC State at Carmichael Arena back in February. Those who […]
›