Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Sam Brunelle wins gold at Youth Olympics

As part of our ongoing series, I sat down with Notre Dame women’s basketball recruit Sam Brunelle to talk about the Youth Olympics, 3×3 basketball, and her official visit to Notre Dame.

Just recently, Sam Brunelle and the USA Women picked up the gold medal in 3×3 basketball at the Youth Olympics. After returning from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Brunelle returned to life as a high school senior. She talked with Slap the Sign about her experience in Argentina and her official visit to Notre Dame.

Jordan: What was the experience like going to the Youth Olympics?
Sam: My experience in Argentina was amazing! Hands down one of the best basketball experiences I’ve been apart of.

Jordan: How was Buenos Aires? What was your favorite part about being down there?
Sam: This was my second time going to Buenos Aires and just like the first it was great. The passion that the fans carry in Argentina is off the chain and might have been one of the loudest crowds I’ve played in front of before. The steak in Argentina is some of the best steak I’ve ever had in my life! Soooo good! My favorite part of being there was getting the Olympic experience with other countries and meeting new people around the village, and making memories that I’ll never forget!

Jordan: How does 3×3 compare to 5×5 for you? What do you like most about 3×3?
Sam: 5×5 and 3×3 are different in many ways. 3×3 has an incredibly fast pace compared to 5×5 constantly playing with few clock stops unless it is a dead ball of course. 3×3 is also a lot more physical and the refs allow you to play a lot more than 5×5. I loved playing 3×3, it was a fun game and something new to me. My teammates (Aliyah, Paige, and Hailey) and coach (Kara Lawson) made the 3×3 experience amazing and enjoyable.

Jordan: You were able to play for Coach Kara Lawson during the tournament. What was that like?
Sam: Being coached by Kara was amazing, she knows the game so well and taught me so much about the game of 3×3. She is an amazing coach, but an even better person.

Jordan: Is it difficult for you to balance senior year responsibilities and playing in an international tournaments? What has been the key for you to staying on top of everything?
Sam: Missing two weeks of school wasn’t easy to come back to, however I am just about caught up in all my classes and still am maintaining all A’s! It was important for me while being away to take study hall serious and get as much work done as I could during those times.

Jordan: Around the last time we talked, you went on your official visit. What was it like to be on campus? Do you have any more trips to South Bend planned right now?

Sam: My official visit to Notre Dame was incredible, I really did not want to leave. Being able to hangout with Coach McGraw, her staff, the team, and my future teammate Anaya Peoples was great. I was able to meet with Rev. Jenkins and listen to his view on my future home. I met many other Notre Dame alumni, current professors, and students from ND and the more and more I met and interacted with the people, the more and more I continued to fall in love with the University! Words can not explain how happy and excited I am to join an amazing women’s basketball family and Irish Family. I will be back to South Bend in the beginning of December for the Notre Dame/UConn game. I can not wait to be back in South Bend!