Sophomore guard Elina Aarnisalo, who transferred to UNC for the 2025-26 season after spending her freshman year at UCLA, is entering the transfer portal once again. According to Talia Goodman of On3 Sports, Aarnisalo entered the portal with a “Do Not Contact” tag.
Aarnisalo, originally from Helsinki, Finland, played a key role in helping the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. She played in all 36 of the team’s games and started 26, including each of the final 12 contests of the season.
Aarnisalo elevated her scoring in the season’s final stretch. From a Feb. 19 overtime win at Virginia Tech through UNC’s win vs. Maryland in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, Aarnisalo averaged 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a red-hot 54.8 percent on three-pointers. The Tar Heels went 7-1 in those eight games. Aarnisalo’s 22 points in UNC’s win vs. No. 12 Duke in the regular-season finale were a career high.
Aarnisalo is the third Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal since the 2025-26 season ended, joining guard Lanie Grant and wing Taliyah Henderson. Grant and Aarnisalo both started in UNC’s season-ending loss to No. 1 UConn.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
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