UNC women's basketball senior forward Alyssa Ustby announced via Instagram on Friday evening that she will return for her fifth and final season.
Born. Bred. Dead. 👣 pic.twitter.com/6lhKHAEygb
— Alyssa Ustby (@alyssaustby) April 26, 2024
"I'm coming back with one singular purpose," she said in her announcement video. "Today — and every day — I am completely focused on doing everything required to leave Chapel Hill in 2025 as someone you're proud of, as someone you remember and as a winner."
The 6-foot-1 forward has been an instrumental piece for the Tar Heels the last four seasons, averaging 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds. Ustby headlined head coach Courtney Banghart's first recruiting class in Chapel Hill alongside Deja Kelly and Kennedy Todd-Williams — both of whom have since entered the transfer portal.
This past season, the Rochester, Minn., native became the first Tar Heel in program history to record a triple-double, notching 16 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 4 against Syracuse. Ustby averaged a double-double in ACC play and was named a top-5 candidate for the Cheryl Miller Award, given to the country's best small forward.
Ustby had a strong senior campaign, earning Second Team All-ACC honors — her third straight year being named to an all-conference team. The versatile forward came up big with 16 points and 17 rebounds in UNC's 59-56 win over No. 9-seeded Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
