WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW women's basketball head coach Nicole Woods has signed guard Tiara Thompson and center Morgan White for the 2026-27 season. 

Thompson is a 5-foot-7-inch point guard from Glen Burnie, Maryland, but moved to North Carolina for the first two seasons of her high school career. Thompson won back-to-back state championships as a freshman and sophomore at West Rowan High School in Mount Ulla. 

As a junior, Thompson played at Mount Zion Prep Academy in her home state, averaging 8.5 points, three rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

Thompson recently returned to West Rowan to finish her prep career.

"Tiara moved to North Carolina and played for a good friend of mine," Woods said. "I went to see her while I was at Charlotte in her very first workout with West Rowan. I knew she had the it factor and played with a sense of poise and pace that I loved. I can't wait for Seahawk Nation to see what I saw years ago."

White, a 6-foot-4-inch center from Spartanburg, South Carolina, will bring a key presence to UNCW's frontcourt after her senior season at Dorman High School.

During her junior year, White averaged 18.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 27 games for the Cavaliers, earning a spot on the 2024-25 South Carolina Class 5A All-State Team.

"My first recruiting weekend as head coach, I saw Morgan White play," Woods said. "She had all the tools and caught every ball thrown her way. I knew she would be special and offered her that day! She will be a household name on and off the court. I'm so thankful she chose UNCW to be her home!"