Notre Dame 2024-'25 Post-Season Thread

[YoDore]

Incoming frosh Leah Macy is rehabbing after surgery for a lower leg injury (probably ACL). Given the recent history of past Irish ACL athletes, that takes a minimum of a year.

Stay tuned

Is Macy's injury to the same leg as the year before? I've seen you mention it along the way, but for some reason it wasn't clicking that it was a new injury. I hate to hear it. Coach Ralph recruited her for a couple years, so I've followed her along the way. Hopefully, she can get healthy and thrive.

 

[cancontent]

Coach Ivey’s recruiting methods defy reason. What is she building? After this year’s meltdown and subsequent exodus why would 5 stars commit there en masse?

Some were wondering the same with Walz a few seasons ago while Louisville went through a dry spell with recruit commitments. Then this past season he had 9. Sometimes the law of averages work out in funny ways.

 

[my2cents]

C'mon, as an outsider that holds no allegiance to either team in this discussion, you were totally trolling and trying to take a cheap shot. You may not realize it, but you did. It's not too hard to see (and to most, its not too hard to admit when they're called out for something - particularly if not intentional).

I was making a point about their season. The 'cheap shot' as you say, speaks more about their season than me pointing out the facts. How would you categorize how they finished? As a positive?

 

[Frankus]

Keep your faith, brother.
Based on who Coach Ivey has signed, they're three grad students who will be there for a sole season. If the trend continues, she's putting all her eggs into a 2025 class that she's worked heavily on. The worry is that Ivey -- for whatever reason -- has only signed one HS commit the last two years and one of those -- Kate Koval -- has left. I'm seriously hoping Coach Ivey and relatively new AD Pete Bevacqua have a constructive frank and thoughtful on how this can be addressed.

My worry is Admissions and NIL allocation. I believe Notre Dame wishes we were in an environment where ideally players stayed for 4 years, or at least two years after getting enough qualifying credits at another university. But that's not where college sports are now. So, if they're going to operate like football, the wbb team will only be able to access grad transfers. I'm also worried that, as a football school coming off a National Championship game performance, and where the truly big money is, that the NIL money allocation will be heavily leaning towards football, and that we're headed to a "football school" " basketball school" dynamic in college sports.

 

[UConnCat]

The pearl-clutching in this thread is something.

Back on topic, something clearly went awry in South Bend this season. This year's ND team was #1 in the country and on their way to a #1 seed and then the wheels started to become wobbly. At the end, ND didn't look like a connected team.

While many have talked about UConn's Big 3, Notre Dame had their own Big 3. Citron was selected #3 in the draft. Olivia Miles would have been top 5 had she declared. Hidalgo will be a top pick when she enters the WNBA draft. How does a team with that level of talent, and with a solid surrounding cast, drop to a 3-seed and lose in the S16? The disappointing end to the season has been made worse by the departures of a group of talented players who, with a key addition or two, could have formed the core of a title contender next season.

Ivey has her work cut out for her this spring and summer. First, she needs to fill out her roster in an environment where the top transfers are thus far looking elsewhere. Second, she needs to figure out what happened on the court and what happened (and maybe still is happening) off the court. As an outside observer, I think it all begins and ends with Hidalgo. Her exceptional talent is undeniable, but can she be the leader her team needs? Can she be a great teammate? When a teammate fumbles one of her passes will she show frustration (as she did this season) or will she pick that teammate up? Will other great players want to play with her? Addressing these types of questions is where coaching can and should make a difference.

As the saying goes, "your greatest strength is your greatest weakness."

 

[BRS24]

 

[Dillon77]

Bella Ragone, Class of 2026 Wing, visits ND over Easter weekend for an official visit.

 

[Bone Dog]

Heckel would be a really good addition. The backcourt might be small, but the defense and the quickness would be awesome.

 

[Dillon77]

The WNBA and Notre Dame decided to capitalize on the continued popularity of WBB by hosting the Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings pre-season game in Purcell Pavilion on the campus of the university. The initial draw: Las Vegas features two former Irish (Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd) and the Dallas Wings have one (Arike Ogunbowale). To further stoke interest, one of ND's greatest rivals over the past few years, Paige Bueckers of the national champion UConn Huskies, is also now on the Wings. Result: bit time crowd and national broadcast on Ion.

The Notre Dame press machine took full advantage to show off the three Domers (Irish-speak for ND grads), as well as current ND WBB Coach Niele Ivey. Lots of pictures via the link.

Aces Top Wings As Former Irish Take Floor At Purcell

Former Notre Dame guard Jackie Young had 28 points

fightingirish.com

 

[BRS24]

The WNBA and Notre Dame decided to capitalize on the continued popularity of WBB by hosting the Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings pre-season game in Purcell Pavilion on the campus of the university. The initial draw: Las Vegas features two former Irish (Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd) and the Dallas Wings have one (Arike Ogunbowale). To further stoke interest, one of ND's greatest rivals over the past few years, Paige Bueckers of the national champion UConn Huskies, is also now on the Wings. Result: bit time crowd and national broadcast on Ion.

The Notre Dame press machine took full advantage to show off the three Domers (Irish-speak for ND grads), as well as current ND WBB Coach Niele Ivey. Lots of pictures via the link.

Aces Top Wings As Former Irish Take Floor At Purcell

Former Notre Dame guard Jackie Young had 28 points

fightingirish.com

Read that the crowd greeted Paige with cheers, which was nice.

 

[Dillon77]

Read that the crowd greeted Paige with cheers, which was nice.

I missed the intro's, but she got cheered when she drove for a nice layup.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Should've posted this earlier, but the "Full Court Press" documentary is out today. Hannah is one of three NCAA superstars being featured this season, along with Kiki Iriafen (Southern Cal) and Flau'jae Johnson (LSU).

 

[Dillon77]

Recent article on ESPN website that interviews ND coaches Muffet McGraw and Niele Ivey on the current former Irish guards from Notre Dame, currently in the WNBA; from Skylar Diggins and Kayla McBride to the most recent, Sonia Citron. Would it surprise anyone that Mrs. Mabrey referred to her own daughter, Marina, as the "Tasmanian Devil?"

Diggins 'changed our program': How Notre Dame became the pipeline for some of the WNBA's top guards

Eight Notre Dame guards, including 2013 draft pick Skylar Diggins, are expected to make 2025 WNBA rosters.

www.espn.com

 

[GamecockFam]

Citron looked really good in the preseason game. I think she is going to have a long career in the W.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[Hayven]

 

[Stagnant]

Ncaa tournament better deliver Notre dame versus TCU.

 

[Plebe]

Time to call in the professional lip-readers.

 

[UConnCat]

Time to call in the professional lip-readers.

View attachment 109267

Love that there's someone wearing a Paige UConn jersey standing in the background.

 

[WBBTakeover]

sigh I guess.

 

[Reypl21]

Ncaa tournament better deliver Notre dame versus TCU.

Mmm, not sure how ND will look next season. But they will enter the W in consecutive years. So excited for that soon to be battle. It looks like they have some bad blood for sure.

 

[hookshot]

I think ND peaked too soon. At one time I thought they were the best team in women's D1 basketball.

No doubt, maybe th back story will eventually com out

 

[Frankus]

I just read this Tom Noie Article in the South Bend Tribune. Here's the money quote:

"At Notre Dame, athletics is headed in the direction of let’s pour much of what we have into football. For the other sports, do your best with less. A lot less."

I have no idea if this is accurate, and I love the football program, but this is something I fear is happening in the wbb situation this offseason.

A counter is that the basketball program signed and has the best incoming freshman class since the Digger Phelps years. Perhaps the new normal is to have more robust signing classes and hope they stay.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I just read this Tom Noie Article in the South Bend Tribune. Here's the money quote:

"At Notre Dame, athletics is headed in the direction of let’s pour much of what we have into football. For the other sports, do your best with less. A lot less."

I have no idea if this is accurate, and I love the football program, but this is something I fear is happening in the wbb situation this offseason.

A counter is that the basketball program signed and has the best incoming freshman class since the Digger Phelps years. Perhaps the new normal is to have more robust signing classes and hope they stay.

That was... a horrifying read. I can't believe I'm saying this, as a fan whose program is coming off our first NCAA Tourney miss in 36 years, and vis-a-vis the program I would have put money on to win the Natty just three months ago in February, but I wouldn't trade places with a Domer fan for all the jewels in Christendom. My condolences, and may Ivey find the pot of gold at the end of the off-season rainbow...

 

[BRS24]

Notre Dame women’s basketball adds former South Bend Saint Joe star through transfer portal

Former South Bend Saint Joseph standout Kelly Ratigan is reportedly coming to the Irish.

www.wndu.com