UNC Women’s Basketball: Deja Kelly enters name into transfer portal

Some surprising news surfaced on Monday afternoon, as UNC women’s basketball star Deja Kelly has entered her name into the transfer portal.

This news was first confirmed by Alexa Philippou of ESPN. Philippou also went on to say that a return to North Carolina is still on the table, but that the star guard will also explore other opportunities as well.

Kelly has been the Tar Heels’ leading scorer for each of the past three seasons, as she averaged 16.3 points per game during the 2023-2024 season. She earned first-team All-ACC honors for the third consecutive season and currently ranks eighth on the UNC women’s basketball program’s all-time scoring list.

This could have major implications on the UNC women’s basketball program’s roster for the 2024-2025 season. Kelly had to weigh her options following her senior season, ones that included entering the WNBA Draft, staying at North Carolina or, as she did on Monday, enter the transfer portal.

In the world of NIL, Kelly has been one of the biggest benefactors, as she’s created a brand for herself that isn’t solely focused on the sport of basketball. Potential endorsement deals elsewhere could entice Kelly to spend her final season of college eligibility elsewhere, but her loyalty and commitment to North Carolina could lead her back to Chapel Hill.

This will be a very interesting storyline to follow, as all eyes will be on Deja Kelly as she works to figure out her future plans on the court.

Have we seen the last of Deja Kelly in a Tar Heel uniform?