After setting a new career high in the UNC women’s basketball team’s win over Boston College on Sunday, Carolina redshirt freshman guard Kayla McPherson was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week.

McPherson scored 22 points against the Eagles in her first appearance as a collegiate starter. McPherson stepped in for a Tar Heel team missing three starters. As well as points scored, McPherson also set career highs in field goals (nine), three-pointers (four), rebounds (six) and minutes (29:29).

McPherson also scored seven points in Carolina’s loss at Syracuse on Thursday, giving her a 14.5 points per game average over the course of last week.

The Boston College game was just McPherson’s fifth appearance of her college career. The highly-touted recruit battled various knee and leg injuries at the end of her high school career and beginning of her college career, including a torn ACL which kept her out of her entire senior season of high school. Her true freshman season at UNC was entirely dedicated to rehab, and a new injury in this past preseason kept her out until January. According to McPherson, her debut against Clemson was her first action in approximately 800 days.

McPherson is the second Tar Heel to win the Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week honor this season, after Paulina Paris did so in January. Carolina will be back in action on Thursday at NC State.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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 Women's Basketball at Notre Dame (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
The Tar Heels will visit Notre Dame this weekend for a marquee ACC matchup. UNC is seeking its second straight win in South Bend after defeating the Irish in 2024. Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 FM and 1360 AM, or by streaming the radio broadcast on chapelboro.com. 97.9 The […]
Stanford Overcomes Late Deficit, Defeats UNC Women's Basketball in Overtime
Stanford scored the final four points of regulation and then outscored UNC 12-6 in overtime to beat the Tar Heels 77-71 at Carmichael Arena Sunday. It’s UNC’s second home overtime loss of the season. Carolina had held the lead since using a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take a 30-23 advantage. The Tar […]
UNC Women's Basketball vs. Stanford (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it hosts Stanford at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. It will be the first visit the Cardinal have made to Chapel Hill as an ACC foe. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule […]
UNC Women's Basketball Pulls Away in 2nd Half to Beat Cal
UNC rang in the New Year by outscoring Cal 39-21 in the second half to beat the Bears 71-55 at Carmichael Arena Thursday afternoon. Rang in the New Year on Top! 🎉@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/uarQft6Opf — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 1, 2026 The Tar Heels led 9-0 inside the first three minutes, but Cal […]
UNC Women's Basketball Uses Huge Runs to Crush Boston College
UNC used runs of 18-0 and 26-0 to soar past Boston College 90-39 Monday night in its return from the holiday break. The win is Carolina’s first in ACC play this season. 𝗦𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗 to an ACC Road Win!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/TMRkCfdpx7 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 30, 2025 The 18-0 run came after the […]
UNC Women's Basketball Rolls Past Charleston Southern in Non-Conference Finale
Carolina led by 25 points at halftime and cruised from there to a 93-74 win against Charleston Southern at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. It was UNC’s final non-conference game of the regular season. Wrapped up non-conference play with a 𝘿𝙐𝘽 🎁@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/GLT8cDkXr1 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 21, 2025 The Tar Heel […]
UNC Women's Basketball Dominates UNC-Wilmington in 50-Point Win
UNC bounced back from its overtime loss to Louisville last weekend in a big way Wednesday night, beating UNC-Wilmington 84-34 at Carmichael Arena. That's a Carolina 𝑾𝑰𝑵!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/MBSQA4SVcl — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 18, 2025 Carolina’s defense limited the Seahawks all night, forcing UNC-Wilmington into more turnovers (22) than made shots (14) […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Rise to No. 12, Women Drop to No. 18
Both UNC basketball teams moved in the latest AP Polls, which were released Monday. The men’s team rose two spots from No. 14 to No. 12 (its highest of the season), while the women’s team dropped six spots from No. 12 to No. 18 (its lowest of the season). The men’s team played only once […]
UNC Women's Basketball Falters Late in Overtime Loss to No. 22 Louisville
No. 22 Louisville used a 13-0 run across the fourth quarter and overtime to rally from a late deficit and beat UNC 76-66 in Carmichael Arena Sunday evening. “We didn’t play very well, unfortunately,” head coach Courtney Banghart said afterward. “Didn’t love our shots. I think everybody played with their desire. They wanted it so […]
UNC Women's Basketball vs. Louisville (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina will open ACC play when it hosts Louisville at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels have won three of the last four meetings with the Cardinals. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do […]
›