The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. The program currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I. The Fighting Irish play their home games in the Purcell Pavilion at the Edmund P. Joyce Center, and are currently coached by Niele Ivey.
The Notre Dame womenâÂÂs basketball program commenced as a varsity sport in the 1977âÂÂ78 season, gradually fostering a competitive identity while navigating through early conferences such as the North Star and Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Achievements during this period were modest yet noteworthy: Trena Keys earned consecutive North Star Conference Player of the Year honors in 1985 and 1986, and Karen Robinson followed with MCC Player of the Year recognition in 1990âÂÂ91âÂÂreflecting the programâÂÂs progress in establishing national relevance. In 1987âÂÂ88, Notre Dame hired former Lehigh women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw as the programs new head coach. She had an immediate impact on the program and began building a national basketball powerhouse. During McGraw's tenure, the Irish won two national championships, appeared in 9 Final Fours, and captured multiple conference titles. She was a 4-time AP Coach of the Year (2001, 2013, 2014, 2018), 3-time Naismith Coach of the Year(2001, 2013, 2014), 3-time USBWA Coach of the Year (2001, 2013, 2014), and 3-time WBCA Coach of the Year, making her one of the most decorated coaches in women's basketball history.
Notre Dame's first milestone came in 1992, when the program earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance (lost in the first round), signaling that its developmental trajectory was reaching a broader stage.
Notre DameâÂÂs pivotal breakthrough arrived in 1997, as the Fighting Irish reached the programâÂÂs first Final Four, laying the groundwork for elite status. They lost to eventual champion Tennessee that year in the National Semifinals, 80âÂÂ66.
Four seasons later, their culmination came in 2001. In a storied NCAA title game, Notre Dame erased a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Purdue 68âÂÂ66, as AllâÂÂAmerican center Ruth Riley nailed crucial free throws with less than six seconds remaining. A commanding 90âÂÂ75 semifinal win over Connecticut had set the stage for celebration. This championshipâÂÂa defining moment dubbed "Muffet and Her Miracles" in program loreâÂÂfirmly placed Notre Dame among the sportâÂÂs upper echelon.
In the decade following the first title, Notre Dame sustained steady excellence. The team recorded numerous 20âÂÂwin seasons, secured frequent NCAA bids, and reached the Sweet Sixteen regularly, even though another national championship remained elusive. These years were characterized by disciplined coaching and the laying of a foundation for future championship-caliber teams.
The 2010s marked the pinnacle of Notre Dame womenâÂÂs basketball. In 2011, the Irish became the first team in NCAA tournament history to defeat both Tennessee and Connecticut in the same run, advancing to the championship game before falling 76âÂÂ70 to Texas A&M. The following year, the Irish repeated the feat of reaching the title game, though they were defeated 80âÂÂ61 by Baylor.
The 2012âÂÂ13 season was a program high: a historic 31âÂÂ1 record, flawless 16âÂÂ0 Big East play, and the first Big East Tournament championship achieved with a dramatic 61âÂÂ59 win over UConn. However, the Irish ultimately lost in the National Semifinals to Connecticut 83âÂÂ65, ending their season with a 35âÂÂ2 overall record. Transitioning to the ACC in 2013âÂÂ14, the Irish reached the national championship game in an undefeated (37âÂÂ0) campaign, only to succumb 79âÂÂ58 to UConn (hindered by the loss of one of their top stars, Natalie Achonwa, who had torn her ACL in the Elite Eight).
In 2014âÂÂ15, Notre Dame again contested for the national title after defeating South Carolina in a nail-bitter in the National Semifinals, 66âÂÂ65. In the national championship game, they fell 63âÂÂ53 to UConn for the second straight year. The Irish finished with a 36âÂÂ3 record and were ranked No. 2 nationally across the final polls.
The defining highlight of the Fighting Irish's modern history arrived in 2017âÂÂ18, when a seven-player roster overcame adversity to win a second national championship; Junior Arike Ogunbowale delivered consecutive buzzer-beatersâÂÂfirst in the National Semifinals to defeat previously undefeated UConn 91âÂÂ89 in overtime, then in the title game to beat Mississippi State, 61âÂÂ58.
The program returned to the Final Four in the 2018âÂÂ19 season, defeating UConn in the National Semifinals for a second consecutive year, 81âÂÂ76. In the championship game, the Irish narrowly lost 82âÂÂ81 to Baylor in a rematch of the 2012 championship game. Over the 2010s decade, Notre Dame appeared in six national championship games, establishing itself as a consistent national powerhouse.
Following Muffet McGraw's retirement in 2020, alumna Niele IveyâÂÂherself a former standout guard and assistantâÂÂassumed head coaching duties, becoming the first Black woman to coach any sport at the university. The 2020âÂÂ21 season was shaped by COVIDâÂÂ19 disruptions and developmental priorities. While this stretch lacked postseason milestones, it laid the foundation for the programâÂÂs resurgence under IveyâÂÂs leadership.
Under IveyâÂÂs stewardship, Notre Dame steadily regained national prominence. In 2021âÂÂ22, the Irish advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling a close 66âÂÂ63 to #1-seeded NC State. The 2022âÂÂ23 season featured an ACC regular-season title and a 27âÂÂ6 record, with another trip to the Sweet SixteenâÂÂsignaling the return of high-level competitiveness. The Irish lost to #2-seeded Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen, 76âÂÂ59.
In 2023âÂÂ24, Notre Dame captured the ACC Tournament championship with a 55âÂÂ51 victory over NC State, earning its sixth ACC title and the first under IveyâÂÂs leadership. They were awarded a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for a third consecutive year, before falling to #3-seeded Oregon State, 70âÂÂ65. Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo was named MVP, showcasing the emerging stars of the roster.
The 2024âÂÂ25 season represented perhaps the most compelling campaign in recent memory. The Irish began ranked sixth nationally and posted emphatic early victoriesâÂÂincluding 102âÂÂ58 over Purdue and 74âÂÂ61 at USCâÂÂrising to No.â¯1 briefly. Despite an overtime defeat to NC State, Notre Dame completed a 28âÂÂ6 (16âÂÂ2 ACC) regular season, sharing the ACC regular-season title and finishing in the top 10 nationally. In the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed in the Birmingham regional, the Irish advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after defeating Stephen F. Austin 106âÂÂ54 and Michigan 76âÂÂ55, before being eliminated by TCU 71âÂÂ62. Sophomore star Hannah Hidalgo captured both ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, ranking among the nationâÂÂs best in scoring and steals.
Since the 1981âÂÂ82 season, Notre Dame holds an overall record of 1,070âÂÂ351 (.753), with 18 regular-season conference crowns, 12 conference tournament titles, 30 NCAA Tournament appearances, nine Final Fours, and two national championships.
Naismith College Player of the Year
AP National Player of the Year
Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year
NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player
Naismith College Coach of the Year
ACC Athlete of the Year
ACC Player of the Year
ACC Defensive Player of the Year
ACC Rookie of the Year
Big East Freshman of the Year
Big East Defensive Player of the Year
Midwestern Collegiate Conference/Horizon League Player of the Year
North Star Conference Player of the Year
ACC Coach of the Year
Big East Coach of the Year
Midwestern Collegiate Conference/Horizon League Coach of the Year
North Star Conference Coach of the Year
Notre Dame has played in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 31 times. They have a record of 78âÂÂ29.
The following lists where the Fighting Irish have been seeded in the NCAA tournament.