Kayla McPherson

Biography

Kayla McPherson transitioned to the role of a student assistant after announcing her retirement from basketball prior to the 2025-26 season. Joining the Tar Heels in 2021 out of Madison County High School and Hull, Ga., the McDonald's All-American redshirted her first year in Chapel Hill while rehabbing an injury sustained in high school. Finally hitting the court in January of 2023, McPherson made a strong impression by scoring 14 points in her first game at Carmichael in a win over Virginia. After posting a career-high 22 points and six rebounds against Boston College on Feb. 12, McPherson was named the ACC Freshman of the Week. She wrapped her redshirt-freshman campaign averaging 6.8 points per game, making 13 appearances and three starts. Coming back for her redshirt sophomore year, McPherson appeared in seven games with three starts in November of 2023 before sustaining a season ending knee injury. McPherson scored a season-high 11 points against Kansas State. Despite missing the 2024-25 campaign, McPherson has remained an integral part of the Tar Heel program as her high-level basketball IQ provides a huge boost to the team.