From Cougar Captain to Championship Coach: Nola Henry
3/3/2026 11:06:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Long before she was drawing up plays on the professional sidelines, Nola Henry was leading the Cougars inside TD Arena.
Henry, a former team captain and two-year starter for Charleston, has quickly made a name for herself in the coaching world.
Henry began her coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2017 and has since worked her way up to an assistant coach in the WNBA, and now the head coach of Rose BC in the Unrivaled Basketball League.
During her two years with the Cougars, the Willingboro, New Jersey native helped Charleston earn 20 wins. From 2015-2017, Henry totaled 215 points, 184 rebounds, 182 assists and 41 steals in the maroon and gold. She also made 52 starts, played in 59 total contests and logged 1,574 minutes as a Cougar.
"I'm very proud to be a Cougar. Charleston will always have a special place in my heart. I graduated from CofC and I had the honor to be a team captain my senior year. Being a captain was a privilege that gave me confidence and taught me how to be a leader."
After playing for Charleston for two years, Henry was a graduate assistant with two different schools before entering into the professional world as an intern for the Connecticut Sun in 2020. She worked under Head Coach Curt Miller and assisted with player development, video coordination and team operations.
"I've had pretty humble beginnings," Henry said. "I started as an intern in Connecticut, and I had opportunities to be a part of high-level conversations, whether from a coaching standpoint, high-level games, or whether we were in the WNBA Finals in 2021. All of those experiences have prepared me to take the next steps in my career."
Henry had done such a great job with the Sun, that when Miller left the Sun to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks, he brought Henry with him to become one of his top assistants. Henry even stepped in as the interim head coach of the Sparks during the 2024 season. After spending five years alongside Miller, Henry accepted an assistant coaching position with the Dallas Wings in 2025.
In January 2025, a new 3-on-3 professional women's basketball league called Unrivaled was launched. The league was founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and aims to empower women basketball players by creating a player-owned, fan-centric 3-on-3 league that provides top-tier, year-round, domestic compensation and ownership equity. Unrivaled features primarily WNBA players and also includes top prospects.
Using her connections in the WNBA, Henry landed one of just six head coaching positions in the league as she became the leader for Rose BC. During the inaugural season of Unrivaled, Henry's squad that included players such as Angel Reese, Lexie Hull and Chelsea Gray won the first ever championship.
"It's an honor to be a part of an incredible new league, and to win the first ever championship is something that I'll remember forever. I'm just grateful that I get to be one of the first and I'm grateful for everyone who has helped me get to where I am today."
Henry is currently still at the helm of Rose BC and on staff with the Dallas Wings.
The 2025-26 Charleston women's basketball team has clinched at least a share of the 2025-26 CAA Regular Season Championship, and the Cougars can clinch the outright title with one win in any of their last two games. The 2025-26 CAA Regular Season Championship is the first championship in Division I program history.
The Cougars will be back in action as they are set to host Stony Brook on Thursday, March 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., the game will be streamed on FloCollege and a link to the stream as well as live stats can be found on the women's basketball schedule page at cofcsports.com. Thursday evening will also be senior day, and Sophia Tougas and Marissa Brown will be honored prior to the contest.
For complete coverage of Charleston women's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCWBB) and Instagram (@CofCWBB).
Henry, a former team captain and two-year starter for Charleston, has quickly made a name for herself in the coaching world.
Henry began her coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2017 and has since worked her way up to an assistant coach in the WNBA, and now the head coach of Rose BC in the Unrivaled Basketball League.
During her two years with the Cougars, the Willingboro, New Jersey native helped Charleston earn 20 wins. From 2015-2017, Henry totaled 215 points, 184 rebounds, 182 assists and 41 steals in the maroon and gold. She also made 52 starts, played in 59 total contests and logged 1,574 minutes as a Cougar.
"I'm very proud to be a Cougar. Charleston will always have a special place in my heart. I graduated from CofC and I had the honor to be a team captain my senior year. Being a captain was a privilege that gave me confidence and taught me how to be a leader."
After playing for Charleston for two years, Henry was a graduate assistant with two different schools before entering into the professional world as an intern for the Connecticut Sun in 2020. She worked under Head Coach Curt Miller and assisted with player development, video coordination and team operations.
"I've had pretty humble beginnings," Henry said. "I started as an intern in Connecticut, and I had opportunities to be a part of high-level conversations, whether from a coaching standpoint, high-level games, or whether we were in the WNBA Finals in 2021. All of those experiences have prepared me to take the next steps in my career."
Henry had done such a great job with the Sun, that when Miller left the Sun to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks, he brought Henry with him to become one of his top assistants. Henry even stepped in as the interim head coach of the Sparks during the 2024 season. After spending five years alongside Miller, Henry accepted an assistant coaching position with the Dallas Wings in 2025.
In January 2025, a new 3-on-3 professional women's basketball league called Unrivaled was launched. The league was founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and aims to empower women basketball players by creating a player-owned, fan-centric 3-on-3 league that provides top-tier, year-round, domestic compensation and ownership equity. Unrivaled features primarily WNBA players and also includes top prospects.
Using her connections in the WNBA, Henry landed one of just six head coaching positions in the league as she became the leader for Rose BC. During the inaugural season of Unrivaled, Henry's squad that included players such as Angel Reese, Lexie Hull and Chelsea Gray won the first ever championship.
"It's an honor to be a part of an incredible new league, and to win the first ever championship is something that I'll remember forever. I'm just grateful that I get to be one of the first and I'm grateful for everyone who has helped me get to where I am today."
Henry is currently still at the helm of Rose BC and on staff with the Dallas Wings.
The 2025-26 Charleston women's basketball team has clinched at least a share of the 2025-26 CAA Regular Season Championship, and the Cougars can clinch the outright title with one win in any of their last two games. The 2025-26 CAA Regular Season Championship is the first championship in Division I program history.
The Cougars will be back in action as they are set to host Stony Brook on Thursday, March 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., the game will be streamed on FloCollege and a link to the stream as well as live stats can be found on the women's basketball schedule page at cofcsports.com. Thursday evening will also be senior day, and Sophia Tougas and Marissa Brown will be honored prior to the contest.
For complete coverage of Charleston women's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCWBB) and Instagram (@CofCWBB).
Players Mentioned
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