After the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team lost in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to TCU, Olivia Miles said she wasn’t sure whether she would come back or head off to the WNBA. It turns out it didn’t take all that long to make a decision.
Meanwhile, Stanford’s latest coaching hire is bizarre for several reasons, and the fact that Frank Reich has never coached at the college level isn’t at the top of the list.
Olivia Miles leaves Notre Dame Fighting Irish searching for answers
It feels like Monday night has been inevitable for a couple of years. Notre Dame fans might remember there were strong rumors that the backcourt of Miles and Hidalgo was breaking up after the NCAA Tournament in 2024. They stayed together for one more run at more than the Sweet 16.
After falling short of the Elite Eight for the fourth consecutive year, Miles is off to greener pastures. However, she’s not headed to the WNBA just yet. The guard, who was expected to be the No. 2 player in the draft, is instead in the transfer portal. Perhaps Sonia Citron was right when she said Notre Dame had too much talent. Indeed, they have less now.
https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1906872089421771139
Stanford’s hire makes little sense for the health of the program
New Cardinal GM Andrew Luck is either over his head or a crazy genius. It doesn’t appear there’s an in-between. Less than a week after firing head coach Troy Taylor, Luck has hired former NFL quarterback and head coach Frank Reich.
Except that Reich will only be in the job for one season. Then, after next fall, the Cardinal will look for a permanent replacement for Taylor. That’s undoubtedly going to make recruiting this year interesting. Maybe Luck knows what we’re loathe to admit. The coach no longer matters in that regard. It’s what you’re willing to pay that steers the recruiting ship.
Devonta Smith wants to show the Notre Dame Fighting Irish he’s a ‘dog’
Transfer defensive back Devonta Smith wants to ensure his Notre Dame football teammates know he’s ready to go into battle. In a recent interview with On3, he talked about the legacy he wants to leave in 2025.
“I’m just hoping to prove that I’m a dog. Let everybody know I’m a dog. That I’m the best at what I do. Continue to bring up this winning culture that Notre Dame has had. Get the experience and build great relationships with the players on this team, the coaches on this team and the people around South Bend.”
Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans certainly hope he backs that up.