# Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. The program currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I. The Fighting Irish play their home games in the Purcell Pavilion at the Edmund P. Joyce Center, and are currently coached by Niele Ivey.

## History

Former coach Muffet McGraw was the women's head coach from 1987 to 2020 and led the Irish to two national championships in 2001 and 2018. The Irish's first national championship team in 2001 was led by 6-foot-5 center and future WNBA star Ruth Riley, who led the Irish past Purdue 68–66.
Under McGraw's stewardship, Notre Dame has reached the Final Four nine times (1997, 2001, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019), which currently ranks 5th all time in NCAA history. Notre Dame has made it to the Sweet Sixteen in each of the last ten seasons (2010–19), has won 20 or more games in 24 of the past 25 seasons, and has won 30 or more games in eight consecutive seasons (2011–19). The Irish have made 26 NCAA tournament appearances as of the end of the 2018–19 season, including a current streak of 24 appearances. In the current streak, Notre Dame has made it to the second round in all but one of the appearances.
McGraw would take the Fighting Irish back to the Final Four in 2011 under the play of star point guard Skylar Diggins, beating Pat Summitt's Tennessee Lady Volunteers; the program's first win against the Lady Vols in 21 tries. That win was followed by an upset of the number one-ranked UConn Huskies (making Notre Dame the first team ever to beat both Tennessee and UConn in the same tournament) to advance the Fighting Irish to the 2011 championship game, where it lost to Texas A&M. The Irish would return to the championship game in 2012, losing to unbeaten Baylor after winning the Big East regular season title and beating UConn again to reach the final.
In the 2012–2013 season, the Irish, led by Diggins and shooting guard Kayla McBride, posted their best regular season record in school history (31–1), despite losing Big East defensive player of the year Devereaux Peters and two other starters to graduation. Their only regular season loss was to Baylor, and the team posted wins over #9 Tennessee in Knoxville and a narrow 1 point at #1 Connecticut. The Irish completed an undefeated 16–0 Big East regular season championship vs #3 Connecticut in the final game of the season, winning a triple overtime thriller to close out Diggins’ career in South Bend. UConn and Notre Dame would again meet in the Big East Tournament final, with Notre Dame winning narrowly 61–59 to claim their first ever Big East tournament championship. Notre Dame had lost to UConn in the finale 6 previous times.
Notre Dame made it to the national championship game in 2014 and 2015, twice losing to Connecticut.
After an injury plagued start to the 2017–18 season, which saw four Irish players lost to injury, Notre Dame won its second national championship by beating Mississippi State 61–58. Junior guard Arike Ogunbowale scored the game winning three point shot with one-tenth of a second left, two days after scoring a similar buzzer beater to knock out Connecticut in the semifinal game. The win was coach McGraw's second national championship and 800th win at Notre Dame. Four of the returning five starters, including Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey and Jessica Shepard, returned to the Final Four the following year. The Irish would beat Uconn 81–76 before falling by 1 point to Baylor, 82–81.

## Awards and honors
### National awards
#### Players

Naismith College Player of the Year
* Ruth Riley – 2001
AP National Player of the Year
* Ruth Riley – 2001
Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year
* Ruth Riley – 2001
NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Ruth Riley – 2001
* Arike Ogunbowale – 2018
Nancy Lieberman Award
* Skylar Diggins – 2012, 2013
Elite 90 Award
* Nicole Benz – 2019

#### Coaches

Naismith College Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2001, 2013, 2014
AP Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2001, 2013, 2014, 2018
WBCA Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2001, 2013, 2014
USBWA Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2001, 2013, 2014

### Conference awards
#### Players

ACC Athlete of the Year
* Arike Ogunbowale – 2018
ACC Player of the Year
* Kayla McBride – 2014
* Jewell Loyd – 2015
* Brianna Turner – 2016
ACC Defensive Player of the Year
* Brianna Turner – 2016, 2017, 2019
* Hannah Hidalgo – 2024
ACC Rookie of the Year
* Brianna Turner – 2015
* Maddy Westbeld – 2021
* Sonia Citron – 2022
* Hannah Hidalgo – 2024
Big East Player of the Year
* Ruth Riley – 2001
* Jacqueline Batteast – 2005
* Skylar Diggins – 2012, 2013
Big East Freshman of the Year
* Alicia Ratay – 2000
* Jacqueline Batteast – 2002
* Jewell Loyd – 2013
Big East Defensive Player of the Year
* Ruth Riley – 1999, 2000, 2001
* Devereaux Peters – 2011, 2012
Midwestern Collegiate Conference/Horizon League Player of the Year
* Karen Robinson – 1990, 1991
North Star Conference Player of the Year
* Trena Keys – 1985, 1986

#### Coaches

ACC Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2014, 2016
* Niele Ivey – 2023
Big East Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 2001, 2013
Midwestern Collegiate Conference/Horizon League Coach of the Year
* Muffet McGraw – 1991
North Star Conference Coach of the Year
* Mary DiStanislao – 1985, 1986
* Muffet McGraw – 1988

## Season-by-season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Sharon Petro (1977–1980) ||||||
| 1977–78 | Sharon Petro | 13–4 | | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Sharon Petro | 16–6 | | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Sharon Petro | 20–10 | | — | — |
| Petro: | Petro: | 49–20 (.710) | | | |
| Mary DiStanislao (1980–1983) ||||||
| 1980–81 | Mary DiStanislao | 10–18 | – | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Mary DiStanislao | 16–9 | – | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Mary DiStanislao | 20–7 | – | — | — |
| Mary DiStanislao (North Star Conference) (1983–1987) ||||||
| 1983–84 | Mary DiStanislao | 14–14 | 6–4 | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Mary DiStanislao | 20–8 | 13–1 | 1st | — |
| 1985–86 | Mary DiStanislao | 23–8 | 13–1 | 1st | — |
| 1986–87 | Mary DiStanislao | 12–15 | 4–2 | — | — |
| DiStanislao: | DiStanislao: | 115–79 (.593) | | | |
| Muffet McGraw (North Star Conference) (1987–1988) ||||||
| 1987–88 | Muffet McGraw | 20–8 | 7–3 | 2nd | — |
| Muffet McGraw (Midwestern Collegiate Conference) (1987–1994) ||||||
| 1988–89 | Muffet McGraw | 21–11 | 12–2 | T-1st | 7th in NWIT |
| 1989–90 | Muffet McGraw | 23–6 | 16–0 | 1st | — |
| 1990–91 | Muffet McGraw | 23–9 | 15–1 | 1st | 8th in NWIT |
| 1991–92 | Muffet McGraw | 14–17 | 8–4 | 2nd | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1992–93 | Muffet McGraw | 15–12 | 11–5 | T-2nd | — |
| 1993–94 | Muffet McGraw | 22–7 | 10–2 | 1st | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1994–95 | Muffet McGraw | 21–10 | 15–1 | 1st | 3rd in NWIT |
| Muffet McGraw (Big East) (1995–2013) ||||||
| 1995–96 | Muffet McGraw | 23–8 | 15–3 | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 1996–97 | Muffet McGraw | 31–7 | 17–1 | 2nd | NCAA Final Four |
| 1997–98 | Muffet McGraw | 22–10 | 12–6 | T-4th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1998–99 | Muffet McGraw | 26–5 | 15–3 | 3rd | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 1999–00 | Muffet McGraw | 27–5 | 15–1 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2000–01 | Muffet McGraw | 34–2 | 15–1 | T-1st | NCAA Champions |
| 2001–02 | Muffet McGraw | 20–10 | 13–3 | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2002–03 | Muffet McGraw | 21–11 | 10–6 | 5th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2003–04 | Muffet McGraw | 21–11 | 12–4 | T-2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2004–05 | Muffet McGraw | 27–6 | 13–3 | T-2nd | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2005–06 | Muffet McGraw | 18–12 | 8–8 | 10th | NCAA 1st Round |
| 2006–07 | Muffet McGraw | 20–12 | 10–6 | 5th | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2007–08 | Muffet McGraw | 25–9 | 11–5 | 4th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2008–09 | Muffet McGraw | 22–9 | 10–6 | T-4th | NCAA 1st Round |
| 2009–10 | Muffet McGraw | 29–6 | 12–4 | T-4th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2010–11 | Muffet McGraw | 31–8 | 13–3 | T-2nd | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2011–12 | Muffet McGraw | 35–4 | 15–1 | 1st | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2012–13 | Muffet McGraw | 35–2 | 16–0 | 1st | NCAA Final Four |
| Muffet McGraw (ACC) (2013–2020) ||||||
| 2013–14 | Muffet McGraw | 37–1 | 16–0 | 1st | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2014–15 | Muffet McGraw | 36–3 | 15–1 | 1st | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2015–16 | Muffet McGraw | 33–2 | 16–0 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2016–17 | Muffet McGraw | 33–4 | 15–1 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2017–18 | Muffet McGraw | 35–3 | 15–1 | T-1st | NCAA Champions |
| 2018–19 | Muffet McGraw | 35–4 | 14–2 | T-1st | NCAA Runner-Up |
| 2019–20 | Muffet McGraw | 13–18 | 8–10 | T-9th | |
| Muffet McGraw: | Muffet McGraw: | 848–248 (.774) | 245–89 (.734) | | |
| Niele Ivey (ACC) (2020–present) ||||||
| 2020–21 | Niele Ivey | 10–10 | 8–7 | 6th | |
| 2021–22 | Niele Ivey | 24–10 | 13–5 | T-3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2022–23 | Niele Ivey | 27–6 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2023–24 | Niele Ivey | 28–7 | 13–5 | T-2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2024–25 | Niele Ivey | 24–3 | 15–1 | | |
| Niele Ivey: | Niele Ivey: | 113–35 (.764) | 64–21 (.753) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1,122–381 (.747) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## NCAA Tournament history

Notre Dame has played in 30 NCAA Tournaments with a record of 69–25.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1992 | #12 | Round of 64 | #5 UCLA | L 72–93 |
| 1994 | #7 | Round of 64 | #10 Minnesota | L 76–81 |
| 1996 | #12 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #5 Purdue #4 Texas Tech | W 73–60 L 67–82 |
| 1997 | #6 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | #11 Memphis #3 Texas #2 Alabama #5 George Washington #3 Tennessee | W 93–62 W 86–83 W 87–81 W 62–52 L 66–80 |
| 1998 | #9 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #8 Southwest Missouri State #1 Texas Tech #4 Purdue | W 78–64 W 62–52 L 65–70 |
| 1999 | #5 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #12 Saint Mary's (Calif) #4 LSU | W 61–57 L 64–74 |
| 2000 | #2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #15 San Diego #7 George Washington #3 Texas Tech | W 87–61 W 95–60 L 65–69 |
| 2001 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Alcorn State #8 Michigan #5 Utah #3 Vanderbilt #1 Connecticut #3 Purdue | W 98–49 W 88–54 W 69–54 W 72–64 W 90–75 W 68–66 |
| 2002 | #7 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #10 New Mexico #2 Tennessee | W 58–44 L 50–89 |
| 2003 | #11 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #6 Arizona #3 Kansas State #2 Purdue | W 59–47 W 59–53 L 47–66 |
| 2004 | #5 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #5 Southwest Missouri State #13 Middle Tennessee #1 Penn State | W 69–65$^{OT}$ W 59–46 L 49–55 |
| 2005 | #4 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #13 Santa Barbara #5 Arizona State | W 61–51 L 61–70 |
| 2006 | #9 | Round of 64 | #8 Boston College | L 61–78 |
| 2007 | #9 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #8 California #1 North Carolina | W 62–59 L 51–60 |
| 2008 | #5 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #12 SMU #4 Oklahoma #1 Tennessee | W 75–62 W 79–75$^{OT}$ L 64–74 |
| 2009 | #7 | Round of 64 | #10 Minnesota | L 71–79 |
| 2010 | #2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #15 Cleveland State #10 Vermont #3 Oklahoma | W 86–58 W 84–66 L 72–77$^{OT}$ |
| 2011 | #2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #15 Utah #10 Temple #6 Oklahoma #1 Tennessee #1 Connecticut #2 Texas A&M | W 67–54 W 77–64 W 78–53 W 73–59 W 72–63 L 70–76 |
| 2012 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Liberty #8 California #5 St. Bonaventure #2 Maryland #1 Connecticut #1 Baylor | W 74–43 W 73–62 W 79–35 W 80–49 W 83–75$^{OT}$ L 61–80 |
| 2013 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | #16 Tennessee-Martin #9 Iowa #12 Kansas #2 Duke #1 Connecticut | W 97–64 W 74–57 W 93–63 W 87–76 L 65–83 |
| 2014 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Robert Morris #9 Arizona State #5 Oklahoma State #2 Baylor #4 Maryland #1 Connecticut | W 93–42 W 84–67 W 89–72 W 88–69 W 87–61 L 58–79 |
| 2015 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Montana #9 DePaul #4 Stanford #2 Baylor #1 South Carolina #1 Connecticut | W 77–43 W 79–67 W 81–60 W 77–68 W 66–65 L 53–63 |
| 2016 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #16 North Carolina A&T #9 Indiana #4 Stanford | W 95–61 W 87–70 L 84–90 |
| 2017 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #16 Robert Morris #9 Purdue #5 Ohio State #2 Stanford | W 79–49 W 88–82$^{OT}$ W 99–76 L 75–76 |
| 2018 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Cal-State Northridge #9 Villanova #4 Texas A&M #2 Oregon #1 Connecticut #1 Mississippi St. | W 99–81 W 98–72 W 90–84 W 84–74 W 91–89$^{OT}$ W 61–58 |
| 2019 | #1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | #16 Bethune-Cookman #9 Michigan State #4 Texas A&M #2 Stanford #2 Connecticut #1 Baylor | W 92–50 W 91–63 W 87–80 W 84–68 W 81–76 L 81–82 |
| 2022 | #5 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #12 UMass #4 Oklahoma #1 NC State | W 89–78 W 108–64 L 63–66 |
| 2023 | #3 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #14 Southern Utah #11 Mississippi State #2 Maryland | W 82–56 W 53–48 L 59–76 |
| 2024 | #2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #14Kent State #7 Ole Miss #3 Oregon State | W 81–67 W 71–56 L 65–70 |
| 2025 | #3 | Round of 64 | #14 Stephen F. Austin | TBD |