Notre Dame women's basketball fans are well familiar with the names Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale. All three players thrived with the Irish and have continued to find success in the WNBA.
As a way to celebrate just how good they were when they were spending their playing careers in South Bend, they'll be coming back to the place where they first showed they were among the best players in the game.
The home of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team is preparing to host a WNBA preseason game that will see the Las Vegas Aces coming to Purcell Pavilion on May 2. Two of the former Irish, Young and Loyd are members of the Aces. They’ll be going up against a former ex-Notre Dame star in Ogunbowale, who has played her entire career with the Dallas Wings.
𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐒 ☘️
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) February 27, 2025
The Aces are headed to Notre Dame for a preseason game against the @DallasWings on May 2!
Tickets on sale March 11.https://t.co/coN0Mgbceo
Presented by @Vegas pic.twitter.com/KSbgP2bly1
Former Notre Dame women’s basketball stars returning to Purcell Pavilion
The three former Notre Dame players have collected a combined four WNBA championships, four Olympic gold medals, 13 All-Star selections and three All-Star Game MVP awards.
This is going to be a great opportunity to check out a league that is only getting more popular all the time and several former greats who started their big-time careers in Purcell.
This matchup will also take place long after the Notre Dame women’s basketball season is over. That means the May 2 exhibition between the two WNBA teams will scratch that itch for those who are missing what stll has a chance to be a magic season.