“It’s a small gym, so it doesn’t take a lot to sell it out. We’ll play in front of more fans at other places. It says sold out because it’s a small gym.” – UNC WBB coach Courtney Banghart on a sold-out Reynolds Coliseum. Jan 5, 2022
Man, if you’re an NC State fan like me, there’s nothing quite like beating up on those baby blue folks from down the road in Chapel Hill. The women’s basketball showdown between us (the mighty Wolfpack) and UNC has been straight fire since the ’70s, full of nail-biters, blowouts, and enough drama to fill a season of reality TV. As of today, January 31, 2026, we’ve got the edge with 65 wins to their 56 – yeah, we’re winning this thing. It’s all about that Tobacco Road vibe, with high-stakes ACC battles that decide who’s boss in the conference and who gets the best NCAA seeds. We’ve come a long way since Title IX kicked things off, and honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster where we’ve had the upper hand more often than not.
The Good Ol’ Days:
When We Owned Them (1970s-1980s)
It all started back on January 13, 1975, in Raleigh – and okay, fine, UNC snuck away with a 74-47 win to kick things off. They even blew us out 85-51 later that season. But then? Boom! Enter Coach Kay Yow, our absolute legend, who turned the Wolfpack into beasts. We flipped the script and went on a ridiculous 19-game winning streak against them – that’s right, 19 straight dubs, the longest in the series. Remember that 89-58 smackdown on February 10, 1978? Our biggest margin ever – talk about embarrassing the neighbors!
Through the ’80s, we kept the pedal down. Road wins like 105-86 in ’89-90? Chef’s kiss. Sure, UNC had their little eight-game streak (their best ever), but we were the ones piling up the W’s overall. And those OT thrillers? We clutched an 88-86 home win in ’94-95, but yeah, we dropped a tough 74-75 double-OT heartbreaker in ’87-88. Kay Yow’s era from ’75 to 2009? That’s what built our foundation – pure Wolfpack grit.
The ’90s and 2000s: They Tried to Come Back, But We Hung Tough
Alright, the ’90s were when UNC got cocky under Sylvia Hatchell, snagging their only NCAA title in ’94. They had some big wins, like 81-54 on our turf in ’93-94 and a 90-71 beatdown in the ACC Tourney the next year. But we weren’t just rolling over – we pulled off squeakers like that 81-80 nail-biter in ’85, the closest game ever.
Rolling into the 2000s, it got even spicier as both squads fought for ACC crowns. UNC had a three-game run in ’05-06, including a 90-69 neutral-site whooping. Stars like their Ivory Latta were flashy, but our crews under Yow held it down. The 100th game in 2015? They edged us out, but it showed how epic this rivalry is. More OT magic, like their 83-77 road win in ’00-01 – gut-wrenching, but we bounced back.2010s to Now: We’re Back on Top, Baby!
The 2010s? That’s when we really leveled up with Coach Wes Moore taking the reins in 2013. Sure, UNC pulled a sneaky upset in 2019, ruining our undefeated season – they were the last team standing that year, but whatever. We’ve owned the last stretch, winning 13 of the past 20 heading into 2025. That 63-59 dub over a ranked UNC in 2024? Late-game heroics in a packed Reynolds – that’s Pack energy!
Lately, it’s been all fireworks. They got us 56-47 at home in 2023 – a grindy defensive battle. But in 2025? We split: They stole a 66-65 thriller at their place on Feb 16 with some late freebies from Grace Townsend, but we clapped back 66-55 in the ACC Tourney on March 8. We’ve hit the Final Four in ’98 and ’24, while they’re just hanging on with tourney bids. Shoutout to our stars like Aziaha James – she’s carrying the torch, while their Deja Kelly’s alright, I guess.
Why This Rivalry Rules (And Why We’re Gonna Keep Winning)
This ain’t just games; it’s family feuds, packed arenas, and bragging rights that last all year. Averaging 72 points a pop with tons of highlights – it’s why we love it. From Reynolds Coliseum roars to those “visits” to Carmichael filled with Pack fans, the hate is real but the respect is there too. With top recruits rolling in and us staying elite, the future’s red and white. Go Pack – let’s keep adding to that win column on Monday night!
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