After four seasons in Chapel Hill, UNC women’s basketball forward Ali Zelaya is entering the transfer portal for her fifth and final collegiate season. Zelaya made the announcement on social media on Monday afternoon.

“Thank you to Carolina and the community that poured into me,” Zelaya said. “My experience here was once in a lifetime, one I’ll never forget.”

Originally from Goodyear, AZ, Zelaya averaged 1.8 points per game during her career with the Tar Heels and only made four starts. But she saw increased playing time late in the 2023-24 season as injuries ravaged Carolina’s roster, and Zelaya scored a career-high 12 points in an upset win against No. 6 NC State on February 22. Of Zelaya’s 21 career made threes with Carolina, four came in that game.

Zelaya’s only other double-figure scoring game came in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, when she came off the bench to score 10 against Aliyah Boston and No. 1 South Carolina. The Tar Heels lost 69-61, but were the only team to finish within 10 points of the Gamecocks for the entire tournament.

Zelaya is the second member of the team to enter the transfer portal this offseason after guard Paulina Paris did so in March.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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