{"id":208083,"date":"2025-09-07T16:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T16:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/208083\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T16:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T16:51:09","slug":"unc-freshman-queiroz-came-to-usa-from-brazil-to-chase-her-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/208083\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC freshman Queiroz came to USA from Brazil to chase her dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"

By R.L. Bynum<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Taissa Queiroz steps on the court this fall in Chapel Hill, she\u2019ll bring with her more than just size, strength and skill.<\/p>\n

She\u2019ll bring life experience and basketball seasoning that\u2019s remarkable.<\/p>\n

The four-star 6\u20131 wing\u2019s story began growing up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a bustling city of more than two million people. Sports were always part of her life, but basketball wasn\u2019t her first love.<\/p>\n

In a culture where soccer stars are known by one name and revered, the Carolina freshman kicked a soccer ball before picking up a basketball. <\/p>\n

Queiroz garnered the one-name reverence in the media when she burst onto the Northern California high school basketball scene at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa called just \u201cTissa\u201d after the first reference in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At eight years old, her mom nudged her to try something new, so she tried basketball. The on-court challenges came quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the only girl on the team,\u201d Queiroz said. \u201cSo, I spent five years playing with boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those five years toughened her up. By her early teens, Queiroz was already facing women much older, sometimes in their 20s or 30s, who forced her to learn quickly. Instead of being intimidated, the experience sharpened her instincts and prepared her for bigger stages.<\/p>\n

That preparation paid off, making her one of three UNC freshmen in ESPN\u2019s Class of 2025 rankings at No. 77, along with five-star wings Nyla Brooks at No. 13 and Taliyah Henderson at No. 27.<\/p>\n

She gained a reputation as a creative scorer who can spin away from defenders and use her ability to create her shot, as well as catch and shoot from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

In 2022, Queiroz helped Brazil\u2019s U17 team capture the South American Championship and earned a bronze medal last month at the U23 GlobJam in Canada.1<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She is one of six Tar Heels who have played for their countries in international competition, along with sophomore guards Elina Aarnisalo (Finland; 8 competitions<\/a>) and Lanie Grant (United States; 2024 U17 World Cup and 2023 Americas Championship<\/a>), freshman wing Taliyah Henderson (Canada; 2024 U18 Americas Championship<\/a>), and senior guard Indya Nivar (United States; 2022 U18 Americas Championship<\/a>).2<\/p>\n

In May, she suited up for Brazil against two WNBA teams, an opportunity most teenagers only dream about.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a cool experience to already see how the next level looks like \u2014 how much faster, how much stronger the players are,\u201d said Queiroz, who turns 20 in December.<\/p>\n

Her biggest test came against the Indiana Fever in Caitlin Clark\u2019s homecoming game in Iowa. Before tipoff, her coach gave her an assignment: guard Clark, one of the best players in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going like, \u2018oh my God,\u2019 \u201d Queiroz said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

In the first 32 seconds, Clark came off a double screen and swished a long-distance 3-pointer as Queiroz tried desperately to get a hand in her face after getting around the second screen.<\/p>\n

She could only shake her head at that point. \u201cGuarding her is so difficult,\u201d Queiroz said. \u201cHer pace is excellent. That was a great experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

That moment showed her exactly where she wanted to go \u2014 and how much work it would take to get there.<\/p>\n

Living away from her family isn\u2019t new to her. She moved to other Brazilian states at age 14 to play basketball. But, in 2023, she made her boldest move yet. Queiroz moved to California, a 20-hour flight from home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already knew how to work without my family,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, coming to the U.S. was an easy process to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

She lived with her host mom, Vicki Morgan, and her dog, and adjusted to a new language while discovering the differences in American basketball.<\/p>\n

The transition wasn\u2019t easy, but it led to significant growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had the goal to pursue my goals with basketball, academics and have more opportunities in my life,\u201d said Queiroz, who thinks of Morgan, who has hosted many international students over the years, as her second family.<\/p>\n

But the distance and four-hour time difference between California and home didn\u2019t make it easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo talk with my family was really hard,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that was the most stressful time in my life to not talk with my family every day like I was used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her play at Cardinal Newman, where it went 28\u20133, earned San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> All-Metro and All-State honors as a junior, drawing interest from college coaches from across the country.<\/p>\n

In her debut for the Cardinals on Jan. 13, 2024<\/a>, Queiroz collected 27 points and 12 rebounds and scored their final eight points to turn a tie game into a 57\u201349 road victory over state power Folsom. Two blowout wins, 71\u201312 and 77\u201312, followed, and she didn\u2019t lose a high school game until Folson avenged that loss in the state playoffs, 54\u201349, with Queiroz scoring 17 points<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Her first scholarship offer came from San Diego State during that junior year. The last offer came from UNC in August 2024, and her final campus visit was to Carolina a month later.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Her commitment to the Tar Heels came quickly, on Oct. 12, but it felt right.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe campus, the coaching style, the players, the environment \u2014 it was such a great experience,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I committed to Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queiroz accelerated her path by graduating from high school early, joining the Tar Heels in the spring semester rather than waiting until the fall semester. One factor was that she had no high school eligibility left. But it gave her valuable time to adapt to the physicality and speed of the college game.<\/p>\n

UNC coach Courtney Banghart said the extra months of practicing with last season\u2019s team and sitting on the bench for games made all the difference.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a totally different player in June when we started [summer practices] than she would have been. So, it was huge,\u201d Banghart said.<\/p>\n

Queiroz wasted no time showing flashes of her potential.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe kind of spun and went under and did this reverse and missed it,\u201d Banghart said, remembering one practice. \u201cSuch a nice move. She stayed after practice and made about 20 of them. That\u2019s just Taissa. She is so committed and has learned so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off the court, her resilience impressed Banghart just as much.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kid taught herself English during COVID by changing her phone to English and watching movies,\u201d Banghart said. \u201cShe just finds a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Banghart says Queiroz is one of the strongest players on the team and remembers when she and Nivar ran into each other during a practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think either was going to leave the gym on their own two feet,\u201d Banghart joked.<\/p>\n

Queiroz brings versatility to the roster. She can handle the ball, rebound and use her size to create mismatches. But she sees her game through a team-first lens.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would do everything for my teammates,\u201d she said. \u201cI always play hard, and especially rebounding and passing. I want to play for me, but I want to play for my teammates too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Far from Brazil, Queiroz leans on her UNC teammates as her second family. Fellow freshmen Brooks and Henderson have become especially close, and she says they\u2019re \u201clike sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her parents will make the trip to Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels\u2019 first two home games in November. But, until then, she knows her teammates have her back.<\/p>\n

After braving five years as the only girl on a boys\u2019 team, she now stands ready to enter some of the biggest stages in college basketball.<\/p>\n

For Queiroz, the journey from Belo Horizonte to Chapel Hill is just beginning.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. One of her teammates was Virginia redshirt junior Raiane Dias Dos Santos, a transfer from Florida State. During that tournament, Brazil lost to Texas, which UNC will visit on Dec. 4 in the ACC\/SEC Challenge.<\/li>\n
  2. Queiroz outscored Nivar nine to seven, with six rebounds, and guarded Nivar some, during the 2022 U18 Americas Championship, but the USA won the semifinal game 84\u201340 with Nivar dishing out three assists.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Oct. 30 \u2014 Exhibition vs. South Carolina at Atlanta\u2019s State Farm Arena, 6 p.m.
    Nov. 3 \u2014 vs. N.C. Central, 11 a.m.
    Nov. 6 \u2014 vs. Elon
    WBCA Challenge in Las Vegas:
    \u2014 Nov. 13 vs. UCLA, 9 p.m. ET
    \u2014 Nov. 15 vs. Fairfield, 6 p.m. ET
    Nov. 20 \u2014 at N.C. A&T
    Nov. 23 \u2014 vs. UNCG
    Cancun Challenge:
    Nov. 27 \u2014 vs. South Dakota State, 11 a.m.
    Nov. 28 \u2014 vs. Kansas State, 11 a.m.
    Nov. 29 \u2014 vs. Columbia, 1:30 p.m.
    Dec. 4 \u2014 at Texas in ACC\/SEC Challenge
    Dec. 7 \u2014 vs. Boston University
    Dec. 14 \u2014 vs. Louisville
    Dec. 17 \u2014 vs. UNCW
    Dec. 21 \u2014 vs. Charleston Southern
    Dec. 29 \u2014 at Boston College
    Jan. 1 \u2014 vs. California
    Jan. 4 \u2014 vs. Stanford
    Jan. 11 \u2014 at Notre Dame
    Jan. 15 \u2014 vs. Miami
    Jan. 18 \u2014 at Florida State
    Jan. 22 \u2014 at Georgia Tech
    Jan. 25 \u2014 vs. Syracuse
    Feb. 2 \u2014 at N.C. State
    Feb. 5 \u2014 vs. Clemson
    Feb. 8 \u2014 at Wake Forest
    Feb. 12 \u2014 vs. SMU
    Feb. 15 \u2014 at Duke
    Feb. 19 \u2014 at Virginia Tech
    Feb. 22 \u2014 vs. Pittsburgh
    Feb. 26 \u2014 at Virginia
    March 1 \u2014 vs. Duke<\/p>\nPlayerRatingESPN rankPositionHeightHometown\/
    home country<\/tr>\n\nNyla Brooks<\/td>\nFive star<\/td>\nNo. 13<\/td>\nWing<\/td>\n6\u20132<\/td>\nAlexandria, Va.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTaliyah Henderson<\/td>\nFive star<\/td>\nNo. 27<\/td>\nWing<\/td>\n6\u20131<\/td>\nTucson, Ariz.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTaissa Queiroz<\/td>\nFour star<\/td>\nNo. 77<\/td>\nGuard<\/td>\n6\u20131<\/td>\nSanta Rosa, Calif.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLiza Astakhova<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\nWing<\/td>\n6\u20131<\/td>\nRussia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    UNC photos courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications; Brazil photo courtesy of FIBA <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By R.L. Bynum When Taissa Queiroz steps on the court this fall in Chapel Hill, she\u2019ll bring with…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":208084,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[1339,1317,1337,1338,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-208083","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-basketball","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-basketball","11":"tag-ncaabasketball","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115164052441157629","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208083\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}