Why UNC women’s basketball has ‘another coach’ as Tar Heels host NCAA Tournament games

Kayla McPherson leaned casually against a rack of basketballs during North Carolina’s open practice Friday afternoon. One leg was crossed over the other, her arms folded as she surveyed her teammates with a watchful eye. Dressed in sneakers, a practice uniform and donning compression sleeves on both legs, she looked ready to play.

But McPherson won’t take the court on Saturday as the No. 3-seeded Tar Heels begin their NCAA Tournament journey at home against No. 14 Oregon State in the first round. In fact, she hasn’t played since November 2023, the result of persistent knee injuries that have plagued her since high school.

But for this year’s North Carolina squad — a program looking to make a statement as it hosts postseason action for the first time in 10 years — McPherson’s presence is unmistakable.

“She’s essentially another coach,” freshman guard Lanie Grant said. “Whenever I have questions or concerns or I’m confused, I look straight to her, and she always has an answer, and it’s always positive.”

McPherson’s leadership was on full display Friday as UNC prepared for its NCAA Tournament opener.

Shoes and jerseys downstairs!

That’s McPherson, standing at the front of the locker room, making sure her teammates are prepared to take the court for practice.

Sideline, keep talking! Sideline, keep talking!

That’s McPherson again, shouting as the Tar Heels run through a litany of drills. She considers herself a “very observant person,” and it shows. As her teammates sprinted the length of the court, McPherson paced along the sideline. When the guards split off to one end of the court, she went with them, helping ensure their warmup routine went smoothly.

The closest the redshirt junior came to participating was dribbling idly across midcourt during a water break, playfully crossing up assistant coach Joanne Aluka-White before pretending to finish a layup. Both shared a laugh.

McPherson said not being able to play has been a “blessing in disguise,” but admitted the journey has been “extremely hard.”

“I mean, at the end of the day, I am human,” she said, later adding, “I’ve had to kind of figure out my way around being injured, but also being able to stay present.”

Her teammates said she’s done more than simply stay present. McPherson has thrived in a leadership role that’s come naturally — bridging the gap between coaches and players and offering insight from both perspectives.

Graduate small forward Alyssa Ustby, one of McPherson’s closest teammates, praised the guard for her ability to keep their teammates in check. She said it’s not rare for McPherson to pull the team together during practice — away from the coaches — and to tell them, “Hey, our focus isn’t there. We need to lock back in.”

“Kayla has been so important to this team because of her leadership… she can synthesize really well what coaches are looking for, and then be able to translate it to players,” Ustby said. “We’re able to get a lot more done. She’s just been really great. She’s a great friend, she’s a great teammate and she constantly does all the right things that help propel a program forward.”

McPherson hopes to become a coach once her playing career ends. Already considered one of the best basketball minds on the roster, McPherson said she’s learned even more about the intricate details of the game from watching the UNC coaching staff. She soaks up everything from coach Courtney Banghart and the assistants — often mirroring their movements during drills, offering the same claps and words of encouragement.

The redshirt junior has also taken lessons from her teammates. Watching players like Ustby and Kelly has helped her better understand the nuances of different playing styles, she said.

But McPherson isn’t satisfied with staying on the sidelines.

She’s working her way back, taking a “day-by-day” approach. McPherson’s been playing one-on-one against UNC’s practice players and managers, ramping up her activity in hopes of a return. While she didn’t offer a timetable, McPherson said her body — and mind — has felt “extremely good” lately.

“Basketball is something that I love and adore very much,” she said. “I pray and I know one day I’ll get back to it, but I’ve learned so much about myself outside of it.”

And the Tar Heels are better for it. UNC assistant director of recruiting and former player, Jaelynn Murray, praised McPherson for the constant advice she offers to the guards. Whether she’s celebrating a made shot in her trademark style — running around near the bench and knocking over several chairs in the process — or yelling at Ustby to warn her about an opponent creeping up on her back, her commitment is evident.

“Her resilience just shines through everybody,” Murray said. “And so, when they’re on the court, it’s like, I’m doing this — not necessarily for her — but because if she could, she would.”

This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Why UNC women’s basketball has ‘another coach’ as Tar Heels host NCAA Tournament games."