South Carolina Must Watch Out for These North Carolina Stars: Kate Harpring Leads the Tar Heels’ Threats

South Carolina women’s basketball is preparing for a major early-season test against North Carolina, and the Tar Heels have several players capable of making life difficult for Dawn Staley’s team.

The matchup on Sunday, November 8, brings together two nationally respected programs. While North Carolina has plenty of experience and talent throughout its roster, freshman guard Kate Harpring has quickly emerged as one of the team’s most exciting offensive weapons.

Her performances in the preseason and season opener have made her a player South Carolina must pay close attention to.

1. Kate Harpring — The freshman scoring sensation

29 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals against Maryland.

Harpring’s performance against Maryland on October 24 was a major statement. She scored 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting, added six rebounds and collected three steals in North Carolina’s 72-68 exhibition defeat.

She followed that with another impressive performance in the regular-season opener against Oklahoma on November 2, finishing with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The freshman’s 21 points were the most scored by a North Carolina rookie in a game since at least 2020, according to the university.

Harpring’s ability to score from different areas, create opportunities for teammates and contribute defensively makes her a difficult matchup. She was also named the only freshman on the 50-player 2026-27 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Watch List.

South Carolina will need to make her work for every basket, limit her opportunities in transition and avoid allowing her to establish an early scoring rhythm.

2. Nyla Brooks — A dangerous perimeter scorer

Brooks is another Tar Heel who deserves considerable attention.

The sophomore guard scored 13 points against Oklahoma, adding two rebounds and two steals. She also contributed 14 points and four assists in North Carolina’s exhibition against Maryland.

Her freshman season offered an indication of what she can bring. Brooks earned ACC All-Freshman Team recognition and scored in double figures 18 times. She also made 63 three-pointers, the most by a North Carolina freshman since the 2015-16 season.

That shooting ability makes her particularly important against South Carolina. If the Gamecocks concentrate too heavily on Harpring, Brooks could find opportunities to punish them from the perimeter.

3. Achol Akot — The inside presence

South Carolina’s frontcourt will have to account for senior forward Achol Akot.

Akot recorded 11 points and eight rebounds against Oklahoma, showing her ability to contribute on both ends of the floor. She also added three steals, making her defensive activity another important part of her game.

The transfer arrived at North Carolina after an impressive season at Oklahoma State. She earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition and finished second in the conference in field-goal percentage at 63.3%.

She also recorded 21 double-digit scoring performances, including six games with at least 20 points, and scored a career-high 28 points against Princeton in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Akot gives the Tar Heels an experienced forward who can finish around the basket and compete for rebounds. South Carolina will need to control the paint and prevent her from getting comfortable close to the rim.

4. Reniya Kelly — The playmaker who controls the offense

Kelly’s value goes beyond scoring.

The senior guard finished the Oklahoma game with 11 points and seven assists, leading North Carolina in assists. She also recorded three steals.

Her ability to organize the offense and get teammates involved could be especially important against South Carolina’s defensive pressure.

Kelly previously demonstrated her scoring potential by recording a career-high 24 points against Miami. After missing part of last season because of an injury, her return gives North Carolina an experienced presence in the backcourt.

The Gamecocks will need to pressure her without losing defensive discipline. Allowing Kelly too much time to survey the floor could create scoring opportunities for Harpring, Brooks and Akot.

5. Sophie Burrows — A valuable two-way contributor

Burrows may not have produced the biggest scoring total against Oklahoma, but her overall contribution deserves attention.

The senior guard finished with nine points, eight rebounds and four steals. Her four steals were particularly notable, demonstrating how disruptive she can be defensively.

Before transferring to North Carolina, Burrows spent three seasons at Syracuse. She averaged 11.1 points per game as a junior and collected 5.8 rebounds per outing.

Her experience and defensive activity give Banghart another player capable of affecting the game without needing to lead the team in scoring.

What South Carolina must do

North Carolina opened its season with a 91-79 loss to Oklahoma in Paris. Despite the defeat, the Tar Heels demonstrated that they have multiple offensive options. Five players reached double figures, and the team scored 27 points off Oklahoma’s turnovers.

However, North Carolina also shot just 33.7% from the field and 27.5% from three-point range. Those numbers show that South Carolina can create problems by applying defensive pressure, contesting perimeter shots and controlling the boards.

The Gamecocks must be especially aware of Harpring’s scoring ability, Brooks’ outside shooting, Akot’s work inside and Kelly’s playmaking.

The challenge awaiting the Tar Heels

North Carolina will enter Sunday’s matchup looking to respond after its opening-game defeat. South Carolina, meanwhile, will have to be prepared for a team with several players capable of contributing offensively.

Kate Harpring is the headline name, but the Tar Heels’ biggest strength may be their balance. If South Carolina focuses exclusively on stopping the freshman, Brooks, Akot and Kelly could make the Gamecocks pay.

For Dawn Staley’s team, the defensive assignment is clear: make Harpring uncomfortable, take away North Carolina’s perimeter rhythm and win the battle in the paint.

Sunday’s showdown should provide an early indication of how the Gamecocks handle a talented and versatile Tar Heels roster.

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