UNC redshirt sophomore guard Kayla McPherson will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season with a knee injury, the program announced on Saturday. McPherson hadn’t appeared in a game since November 30.

According to McPherson, the injury will require surgery.

“I know that I can play an important role on our team even when I’m not in uniform,” she said. “I’ll be cheering for my teammates from the bench and continuing to work hard to get back on the court.”

“I continue to be amazed and inspired by Kayla’s resilience,” said head coach Courtney Banghart. “We are all heartbroken on her behalf as she faces more time away from playing the game she loves and excels at, but her mindset remains so positive. While she attacks this setback, she is determined to impact our team in every way she can. We’re a better team with Kayla, even when she is on the sidelines. Our entire program is behind her as she faces this new challenge.”

McPherson’s time at Carolina has been riddled by injuries. She missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season rehabbing from a knee injury suffered in high school, then missed the first half of the 2022-23 season before making her collegiate debut. She appeared in 13 games.

McPherson then dealt with a separate knee issue in the leadup to the 2023-24 season and sat out the opener before playing in the next seven games.

Carolina currently sits at 10-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The team will be back in action on Sunday when it visits No. 16 Notre Dame. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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 Outlasts Michigan State in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
No. 8 seed Carolina roared out to a fast start and endured a nervy finish to win 59-56 against No. 9 seed Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbia, S.C. on Friday afternoon. UNC will advance to the second round to face either No. 1 South Carolina or No. 16 […]
UNC Women's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: Michigan State
The No. 8 seed UNC women’s basketball team will face No. 9 seed Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday morning in Columbia, S.C. The Spartans come in with a 22-8 overall record and 12-6 mark in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten. If you aren’t familiar with Michigan State’s body of […]
UNC Women's Basketball Earns No. 8 Seed in Albany 1 Regional of NCAA Tournament
Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels are back in the Big Dance. The UNC women’s basketball team will play as the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s Albany 1 Regional. Carolina will face No. 9 seed Michigan State in Columbia, S.C. in the first round on Friday at 11:30 a.m. The winner will almost […]
UNC Women's Basketball Blows Another Double-Digit Lead in ACC Tournament Loss
For the third time this season, the UNC women’s basketball team blew a double-digit lead in a 60-59 loss to Miami in the ACC Tournament’s second round on Thursday afternoon. This time, Carolina led by 14 in the first half but went through offensive doldrums in the second half as the Hurricanes rallied. Deja Kelly […]
UNC Women's Basketball in the 2024 ACC Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Times
The UNC women’s basketball team will begin play in the ACC Tournament on Thursday in Greensboro. The Tar Heels are the No. 8 seed in the field and will face No. 9 Miami in the second round. The winner of that game will face No. 1 Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals on Friday. If you […]
UNC's Deja Kelly Named 1st Team All-ACC; Alyssa Ustby 2nd Team
Two UNC women’s basketball stars earned all-conference honors from the ACC on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Deja Kelly was named first team All-ACC, while fellow senior Alyssa Ustby earned second team honors. Conference honors for our captains 🤩 🔗 https://t.co/rs0S4ChyVw#GoHeels | @dejakelly25 | @alyssaustby pic.twitter.com/hLnje2Hhc0 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) March 5, 2024 It’s the third […]
Here's the Complete Bracket for the 2024 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2024 ACC women’s basketball tournament begins on Wednesday in Greensboro and runs through Sunday. Come back to this page throughout the week for updates on the bracket! The championship game in the tournament is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 and will air on ESPN. Every other game of the 2024 ACC […]
UNC Women's Basketball Beats Duke in Regular-Season Finale
The UNC women’s basketball team celebrated an emotional Senior Night at Carmichael Arena in the best possible way: a win over rival Duke. The Tar Heels got revenge on the Blue Devils with a 63-59 win on Sunday afternoon. Duke had won the first meeting in overtime on February 11. That #BeatDuke feeling #GoHeels | […]
UNC Women's Basketball vs. Duke (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
The UNC women’s basketball team will look to close out the regular season on a high note when it hosts Duke at Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels have won the last two home games against the Blue Devils. Sunday is also Senior Day for UNC’s Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby, Anya Poole and […]
Comeback Falls Short as UNC Women's Basketball Loses at Boston College
The UNC women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome an 18-point fourth quarter deficit at Boston College on Thursday evening, as the Tar Heels fell to the Eagles on the road, 78-74. Boston College came into the night just 3-13 in conference play. Records went out the window as soon as the ball was tipped, as BC […]
›