Kayla McPherson announces her retirement from the sport of basketball

Kayla McPherson has made the tough decision that seemed to be the likely outcome for her playing career.

After undergoing six surgeries over four years at North Carolina, McPherson has decided that it is time to retire from the sport she loves.

The program released the below video, one where McPherson discusses her journey in further detail.

While her time on the court was limited, her passion and love for the program was always on display. Even when she couldn't help her team on the floor, she was on the sidelines cheering, providing words of wisdom and encouragement for her teammates who were battling on it. Behind the scenes, McPherson was working tirelessly to make her way back on the court, showing resilience and determination through all the curveballs life threw at her.

Even when all the cards were stacked against her, McPherson always had a smile on her face, aiming to bring joy to all those around her.

“This program has given me more than I could ever imagine, and the memories we’ve made together will stay with me forever. To the incredible fans at Carmichael — thank you for your love, your energy, and your unwavering support. To Coach Banghart, the staff, my mom and dad, my family, my teammates, the athletic trainers, and everyone who stood by me through every setback and every surgery — thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Fortunately, McPherson will remain with the program as a student assistant, a role that will certainly guide her toward her future in coaching. Tar Heel fans already know that McPherson is destined to become a head coach at some point in the not so distant future.

While fans of the UNC women's basketball program would have loved to have seen her be healthy enough to compete during her final season, they understand what a grind it has been for her in this journey. It's amazing to think what an impact she has made on the program (and the university), especially off the court.

Kayla McPherson is the true definition of a fighter. Her legacy won't be built upon her stats or how many minutes she played, but will be centered around her personality, charisma and passion that she brought to North Carolina during her time on campus.

It's safe to say that McPherson made her mark on Chapel Hill.