UNC Women's Basketball loses another player to the transfer portal

The student-athletes who have received an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic benefit from having that year to work with, but it does cause some issues regarding roster construction.

For the UNC women's basketball program, four players who started their careers at North Carolina have that extra season of eligibility available for the 2024-2025 season, but there probably isn't room for all of them to return.

A roster spot was cleared up when Paulina Paris hit the transfer portal, but that was fulfilled when Lanie Grant announced that she'll reclassify. More roster moves for the UNC women's basketball program are expected, as another player is reportedly set to enter the transfer portal as well.

As reported first by Talia Goodman, Alexandra Zelaya has entered her name into the transfer portal. She'll have one season of eligibility to use when she finds herself a new home.

During her time at North Carolina, Zelaya was utilized as a reserve player. She appeared in 88 games as a Tar Heel, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in those contests.

As a forward, Zelaya's ability to stretch the floor a bit was beneficial, as her three-point shooting took a big jump during her senior season. After connecting on just six of 63 long range attempts in her first three seasons in Chapel Hill, Zelaya made 12 of her 34 attempts as a senior, shooting at a 35.3% clip.

Even though she wasn't the most utilized player on the roster, Zelaya's positive attitude and commitment were major assets to the program. She was always ready when her number was called, as she was also the first one on the sidelines cheering on her teammates as she awaited that opportunity.

More decisions are on the way for the members of the UNC women's basketball program, as Zelaya won't likely be the last player to depart Chapel Hill this offseason.

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