The women’s basketball programs of University of North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Basketball and Norfolk State Spartans Women’s Basketball have scheduled a home-and-home series over the next two seasons.
Norfolk State will travel to Chapel Hill on December 21, 2026, to face North Carolina at Carmichael Arena. In return, the Tar Heels will visit Norfolk State’s Echols Hall during the 2027–28 season. Game times for both contests will be announced later.
The agreement continues North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart’s recent effort to schedule games against HBCU programs. The Tar Heels have already played road games against North Carolina A&T State University in consecutive seasons, including an 85–50 victory in November 2025.
Norfolk State athletic director Melody Webb described the series as an important milestone for the program, noting that North Carolina will become only the second ACC opponent to play at Echols Hall. Duke University Women’s Basketball is also scheduled to visit Norfolk in the upcoming season.
North Carolina finished the 2025–26 campaign with a 28–8 record and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 before losing to University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball. The Tar Heels previously defeated Norfolk State 90–47 during their only prior meeting in the 2024–25 season.
Norfolk State head coach Jermaine Woods praised Banghart for scheduling road games against HBCUs, saying such matchups give his team the opportunity to host elite opponents while boosting exposure and revenue.
The Spartans finished last season 18–15, reached their fifth consecutive MEAC championship game, earned their second WNIT appearance, and ranked among the nation’s leaders in both field-goal percentage defense and three-point defense.
