Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Saying Goodbye to a Legendary Starting Five

With the WNBA draft happening on Wednesday, April 10, it’s time to say goodbye to one of the best starting fives to ever come through Notre Dame.

After a season that saw the Notre Dame women’s basketball team go all the way to the national championship game, it is now time for the WNBA draft. All five starters will be up for selection on Wednesday night in New York City. But before that, let’s take a moment to look back at their careers and to say thank you for all that they have done for the program over the last few years.

When Jewell Loyd left after her junior year to go to the draft, it was a bit of a shock because leaving early in is somewhat unheard of in the women’s game. But this season, there were multiple big name players who were possibly going to leave with eligibility still left on the table. Jackie Young ended up being the only one of the big names to leave and will most likely be a top five draft pick. Over the years, Young has been an important part of this team. It wasn’t until this season though that everyone really realized how good she was.

There are two moments that will stick out most for me from Young’s career and they come towards the end of the 2018-2019 regular season. Against Virginia, Young recorded her second triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. She absolutely dominated that game, and she didn’t even start. Then there is the game just before, the last away game of the regular season. The Irish were playing at Syracuse on Big Monday. Young fell just two rebounds shy of a triple-double, but her 12 assists were a career high. While she was the youngest of the five starters, she was probably the most composed and definitely was the glue of the lineup.

Then there is Marina Mabrey. If you needed a big three or a gritty play, Mabrey is the one to look for. When she first arrived on campus, she was just the younger sister of Michaela. But over the past three years, Marina has developed into the greatest three point shooter in Notre Dame history. Over her career, Mabrey made 274 shots from beyond the arc. But none will be as memorable as her go ahead three against Tennessee in January of 2018. That bucket with just over five minutes remaining helped complete the biggest comeback in program history. Mabrey also should be applauded for her play at the point. Halfway through her junior season, Mabrey was forced to take over at point guard due to injuries. While she struggled at times, her ability to pick up a brand new position really helped the Irish on their path to a national championship last season.

Before the 2017-2018 season, Muffet McGraw had never had a transfer on her roster. But that season she brought in two. Jessica Shepard transferred in and was immediately deemed eligible to play for her junior year. And what an impact that had on the team. With all the injuries that took place and Brianna Turner electing to sit out a season to recover from a knee injury, Shepard was thrust into action right away. Without her, the Irish probably would not have made the title game last season, let alone won it all. Shepard is a special player because she has the height of a post player but the ball handling skills and court vision of a guard. Her ability to get the ball out of her hands quickly and up the floor in transition is what has made the Irish the number one transition team in the country. After losing a large amount of weight in the offseason, Shepard became an even better athlete in her senior season and has set herself up nicely to be a first round draft pick.

In the past two seasons, the Irish have had fifth year post players. Last year, Koko Nelson was a huge impact off the bench as the sixth man. This year, Brianna Turner returned to the lineup and created the juggernaut of an offense that is the Notre Dame starting five. Over her career, Turner was named ACC defensive player of the year three times. The only other player in Notre Dame history that can say that is Ruth Riley and she is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Turner added a nice defensive presence to a team that was heavily touted for their offense. But down the stretch, it was key defensive stops that kept their run going. One of the biggest things that people will remember Turner for is something that she did recently. Against UConn, Turner had a huge block as the clock winded down and two big defensive rebounds that sealed the deal for the Irish. Without Turner, the Irish will have to find a new identity on defense.

And last but not least, Arike. Arike Ogunbowale has the most swagger that you will see in any women’s college basketball player. She is not afraid to keep shooting and shooting, even when things are not going well for her. The confidence she has is exceptional and is one of the things that makes her a game changer for any team. Over her four years at Notre Dame, Ogunbowale really improved her game and has now turned into a high first round draft choice. What most people will remember will be her game winning shots in the 2018 Final Four. But what unfortunately will also stick in our minds is the images of Ogunbowale walking off the floor in tears after her final game as a member of the Fighting Irish. No matter what happened at the end of that game, it did not take away from Ogunbowale’s legacy at Notre Dame.

In the final moments of their careers, it was heartbreak, not jubilation that the Irish faithful all over the country felt. And as these players hear their names called out on Wednesday night, it will be a moment of pride that once again fills the souls of the neon green clad Irish nation.