Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: A look at the best class to play for Notre Dame

The current senior class for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team is the best we’ve seen in a very long time. Now seems like the time to reflect on its accomplishments.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball program has had some special players over the years. With the college careers of Arike Ogunbowale, Marina Mabrey, Jessica Shepard, Brianna Turner, and Maureen Butler nearing an end, it seems appropriate to reflect on one of the most special classes in Notre Dame history. In particular, this is a special class because it includes a fifth-year graduate student, a walk-on, a transfer, and two of the greatest scorers in program history.

Looking back on the past four years, this group has accomplished a lot. When Ogunbowale and Mabrey came into Notre Dame as freshman, the Irish had just lost to the UConn Huskies in the national championship the year before and were looking to rebound. They would go out in the third round that year, one of the earliest exits in years.

But the Irish kept building and getting better. The current group of seniors won two straight ACC tournament titles before losing their junior year to Louisville. But with the addition of a transfer from Nebraska, everything was about to change.

If it wasn’t for this senior class, the Irish would probably only have one national championship banner hanging from the rafters in Purcell. But the gritty trio of Mabrey, Shepard, and Ogunbowale willed their way to that title. And they will always be remembered for it. In their first three years, they went 101-9.

While this class is amazing as a whole, let’s break it down by player to get a true understanding of how special this class is.

Arike Ogunbowale

Arike Ogunbowale: A name that you will remember for a long time when it comes to Notre Dame basketball. While success is a team effort, Ogunbowale is the main reason the Irish were national champs in 2018. Her two buzzer beaters in the Final Four make her the most clutch shooter in women’s college basketball. And just when you thought she couldn’t do anything to further her legacy at Notre Dame, she goes off in her senior season and breaks the school’s all-time scoring record.

In her freshman year, she did not start a single game. She is now on track to start every game her senior season. Since her first season, she has increased her scoring average from 11.4 to 21.3 points per game. And most importantly, she eclipsed the record of 2,357 points, making her the number one scorer in program history. When all is said and done for Ogunbowale at Notre Dame, she will be considered one of the greatest players to have worn an Irish uniform.

Marina Mabrey

The Mabreys are a special breed. Marina followed in her sister Michaela’s footsteps and attended Notre Dame. Now four years later, Marina is leaving with her mark stamped on the program. Mabrey is one of the best three point shooters you will ever see. Her ability to shoot from any range is incredible and makes her very difficult to cover. Through her first three seasons, she shot just under 40 percent from beyond the arc, and is shooting well over that in her fourth season.

Mabrey has averaged double-digits in scoring all four years of her career and that is after missing the first five games of the 2018-19 season. But the most impressive part of her career is probably her transition to the point guard role.

Halfway through Mabrey’s junior season, Lili Thompson tore her ACL. With few options left, head coach Muffet McGraw turned to Mabrey to take over the point guard duties. It has been rough at times, but without Mabrey stepping up, it is hard to imagine what would have happened.

Jessica Shepard

Prior to the 2017-18 season, Muffet McGraw had never accepted a transfer student. That year, Lili Thompson came over as a graduate transfer from Stanford, and Jessica Shepard came over as a junior from Nebraska. Thompson was always slated to play that season, but many had expected Shepard to have to sit out because of transfer rules for undergrads. But just days prior to the season, Shepard was granted a special waiver that allowed her to play that season.

Shepard is one of just two players in program history to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career. She joined Ruth Riley when she surpassed the mark earlier this season. But what is probably most impressive about Shepard is her passing ability. At 6’4”, Shepard is your typical forward. But when she grabs a rebound at the defensive end, you better be ready to turn and look up the court. She gets the ball out of her hands and up the court so quickly that it is almost impossible to defend. Shepard is the biggest reason that the Irish are one of the top teams in the country when it comes to the transition game. When it comes to the WNBA draft in a few months, there is no doubt that Shepard will go in the first round.

Brianna Turner

When Brianna Turner returned for her fifth season after sitting out last year to recover from knee surgery, it was unclear what the Irish would get from her. But she is making her mark on the defensive end in her final year. She has 50 more blocks than any other player on the Notre Dame roster and continues to make things difficult for opposing teams at the other end.

While her offensive production has dipped a little bit this season, she still joins her fellow starters in the 1,000-point club. She might not have been in uniform for the national championship winning season, she still played an important role in the team winning that title. If a WNBA team is looking for an athletic center, Turner might be the perfect fit.

Maureen Butler

Walk-ons are a special type of player. They put in so much effort and are very rarely rewarded with playing time. But in her junior season, Butler was able to play in 20 games for the Irish. In a time where they had many injuries and a short bench, the walk-ons played a very important role. In her senior season, she has played in 18 games and has more minutes than she did all of last season.

At the end of the day, Butler won’t be hearing her name called in the draft this spring. However, once everything is said and done, Butler will walk away with a national championship and a degree from Notre Dame. Not many players can say that and that is something to hang your hat on.