The Notre Dame women’s basketball program is standing at a crossroads, and it’s not just because of the changing seasons. This year, everything feels different—from the faces on the court to the energy in the locker room. If you step into Rolfs Hall, you’ll sense it immediately: this isn’t the same team that dominated headlines last year. But here’s where it gets intriguing—while the past is filled with both triumphs and unexpected setbacks, the future is a blank canvas waiting to be painted.
You don’t need to wander far to see the transformation. Skip the second-floor conference room where coaches strategize for the 2025-26 season. Bypass the lower-level practice court and weight room, where the daily grind is relentless. Even the main-floor locker room, once buzzing with familiar names, now feels like uncharted territory. Instead, just pause in the lobby. Watch the highlight reel from last season looping on the TV wall, and you’ll notice something striking: nearly every player featured is gone. The layup? Gone. The rebound? Gone. The blocked shot, the steal, the celebration? All gone. Except for one—Hannah Hidalgo, the all-star guard who might single-handedly carry the team this season. But even her 30-point games might not be enough to fill the void left by last year’s departures.
This season could be a bumpy ride, no doubt. If last October felt like a masterclass in women’s basketball, this October feels more like Basketball 101. It’s back to basics, back to square one. New faces in unfamiliar roles. Returning players stepping into leadership positions. A fresh resolve. A new vibe. And this is the part most people miss—amid the overhaul, there’s an opportunity for reinvention. For players like KK Bransford, who redshirted last season due to injury, and Cass Prosper, this is a chance to leave their mark on a program that’s known only sustained success for years.
But here’s where it gets controversial—is this rebuild a necessary step backward, or a risky gamble for a program used to winning? Head coach Niele Ivey is facing what might be her toughest challenge yet. Last year, she had a veteran squad that could run on autopilot. Now, she’s teaching, preaching, and pausing practices to hammer home the Notre Dame standard. Some days, it clicks. Others, it doesn’t. “It’s almost like we have five new faces,” Ivey admits, highlighting the steep learning curve. And with seven newcomers, including six transfers, the team is both intimidating and intriguing.
For Bransford, it’s a chance to reshape the program’s identity. “It’s like a blank canvas,” she says. “Finding our identity has been fun this offseason.” But let’s not forget—last season ended in heartbreak. Ranked No. 1 in late February, Notre Dame crumbled down the stretch, losing four of their final eight games, including a Sweet 16 exit. Eight players left, some to the WNBA, others to the transfer portal. It was a collapse no one saw coming, and even now, months later, questions linger. What went wrong? And can Ivey’s leadership turn it around?
Ivey isn’t shying away from responsibility. “I’m taking ownership of everything,” she says. “The highs and lows—I’m responsible.” But she’s also moving forward, using those lessons to grow. This season’s expectations are different. If last year’s ceiling was the Final Four, this year’s goal is simply making the NCAA Tournament. Hosting the first and second rounds? With this roster, that would be a victory in itself.
Here’s the bold question—can a program built on stability thrive in chaos? Ivey thinks so. “We had a target on our back last year; this year, we’re probably under the radar,” she says. “That doesn’t matter to us. It never matters who we are outside of our locker room.” Notre Dame will compete. They’ll scrap. They’ll believe. But will it be enough?
Winter is coming, and it might be harsh. Bundle up, because this season is going to be a wild ride. What do you think? Can Notre Dame rebuild and reclaim their glory, or is this the start of a new era with uncertain outcomes? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
