5 Best North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Basketball Players, Ranked

The North Carolina Tar Heels women’s basketball team won the national championship in 1994, capitalizing on their short NCAAW betting odds of winning it all.

One player helped North Carolina make good on its short championship basketball odds with a game-winning buzzer beater.

Where does she rank among the five best Tar Heels women’s basketball players? Let’s take a look.

5 Best North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Basketball Players, Ranked

North Carolina Tar Heels All-Time Greatest Women’s Basketball Players

1. Ivory Latta

Ivory Latta has the most points (2,285), 3-pointers made (345), and second-most assists (599) in program history.

The multiple-time All-American was the ACC Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year, and Nancy Lieberman Award winner in 2006. She was also a three-time ACC Tournament MVP and three-time first-team All-ACC selection.

Latta was drafted No. 11 overall by the Detroit Shock in 2007, making the WNBA All-Star team in 2013 and 2014 while playing for the Washington Mystics.

2. Tracy Reid

Tracy Reid has the second-most points (2,200) and fifth-most rebounds (1,065) in program history.

The multiple-time All-American was a two-time ACC Player of the Year, a three-time first-team All-ACC pick, and the ACC Tournament MVP in 1998.

Reid was drafted No. 7 overall by the Charlotte Sting in 1998 and won Rookie of the Year honours that season.

3. Tonya Sampson

Tonya Sampson has the most steals (390) and third-most points (2,143) in program history, as she helped the Tar Heels win the national championship in 1994.

The three-time All-ACC and one-time All-American guard/forward averaged 21 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and three assists per game as a junior during the 1992-1993 season.

4. Charlotte Smith

Charlotte Smith has the second-most rebounds (1,200) and fourth-most points (2,094) in program history. 

She was named the Most Outstanding Player after helping North Carolina win the national championship in 1994 by hitting the game-winning shot for the Tar Heels at the buzzer. She also grabbed an NCAA Tournament-record 23 rebounds.

Smith spent six seasons in the WNBA, playing six of them with the Charlotte Sting.

5. Pam Leake

Pam Leake has the fifth-most points (2,001) in program history.

The two-time ACC Player of the Year was also named to two All-ACC teams and a WBCA All-American team.

Leake averaged 22.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game during her senior season in 1985-1986.