UNC Women's Basketball prepares for season with early enrollee Noelle Bofia

UNC women's basketball center Noelle Bofia has utilized an early enrollment period to prepare for her collegiate debut. After graduating high school early, Bofia joined the Tar Heels in January to focus on physical conditioning, footwork, and adjusting to the speed of college-level defenders.

Head coach Courtney Banghart noted that the program spent approximately five months focusing on Bofia's strength and sport performance to prepare her for the low post. This transition allowed her to practice alongside experienced players such as Blanca Thomas and Ciera Toomey.

The Tar Heels enter the 2026-27 season ranked No. 12 in the Preseason AP Poll. They recently secured a 76-66 exhibition victory over Davidson, led by Achol Akot, who recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds.