Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Eight Women’s Basketball Players Earn Spots On All-ACC Academic Team
April 28, 2025 | Women's Basketball, Academics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Coming off of a 2024-25 campaign where North Carolina women's basketball reached its 19th Sweet 16, eight Tar Heels shined in the classroom by earning spots on the All-ACC Academic Team, the league announced on Monday.
Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng, Lanie Grant, Laila Hull, Reniya Kelly, Blanca Thomas, Ciera Toomey and Alyssa Ustby all earned recognition for their work in the classroom.
Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade-point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Additionally, student-athletes must compete in at least 50 percent of their team's contests.
Donarski and Kelly earned All-ACC Academic Team recognition for the second time in their careers, while Ustby received her fourth.
Tar Heels on the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team:
**Lexi Donarski, G, Gr., North Carolina, MBA
Maria Gakdeng, C, Sr., North Carolina, Political Science
Lanie Grant, G, Fr., North Carolina, Undecided
Laila Hull, G, R-Fr., North Carolina, Political Science
**Reniya Kelly, G, So., North Carolina, Information Science
Blanca Thomas, C, Fr., North Carolina, Undecided
Ciera Toomey, F, So., North Carolina, Exercise and Sport Science
****Alyssa Ustby, G/F, Gr., North Carolina, Master of Applied Professional Studies
The Tar Heels earned 29 wins this past season for the best mark in the head coach Courtney Banghart era and hosted first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Chapel Hill for the first time since 2015.
Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng, Lanie Grant, Laila Hull, Reniya Kelly, Blanca Thomas, Ciera Toomey and Alyssa Ustby all earned recognition for their work in the classroom.
Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade-point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Additionally, student-athletes must compete in at least 50 percent of their team's contests.
Donarski and Kelly earned All-ACC Academic Team recognition for the second time in their careers, while Ustby received her fourth.
Tar Heels on the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team:
**Lexi Donarski, G, Gr., North Carolina, MBA
Maria Gakdeng, C, Sr., North Carolina, Political Science
Lanie Grant, G, Fr., North Carolina, Undecided
Laila Hull, G, R-Fr., North Carolina, Political Science
**Reniya Kelly, G, So., North Carolina, Information Science
Blanca Thomas, C, Fr., North Carolina, Undecided
Ciera Toomey, F, So., North Carolina, Exercise and Sport Science
****Alyssa Ustby, G/F, Gr., North Carolina, Master of Applied Professional Studies
The Tar Heels earned 29 wins this past season for the best mark in the head coach Courtney Banghart era and hosted first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Chapel Hill for the first time since 2015.
Players Mentioned
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