Some good news on tax day
Not that the Notre Dame women’s basketball program was wanting for optimism, although the transfer of sophomore guard KK Bransford was disappointing to hear. But good news came on Monday when forward Maddy Westbeld posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she was “not done.”
Not Done☘️
— Madeline Westbeld (@maddy_westbeld) April 15, 2024
— Niele Ivey (@IrishCoachIvey) April 15, 2024
current mood pic.twitter.com/GkWF14em6o
— Notre Dame Women’s Basketball (@ndwbb) April 15, 2024
The heavy implication is that Westbeld will forego the professional route for the time being. She began her collegiate career in Niele Ivey’s first season as head coach in 2020–21, and would be taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted during her COVID-19-affected freshman season. Maddy, the younger sister of former Notre Dame forward and national championship winner Kathryn Westbeld, has been a model of consistency for the Irish the last four years, averaging 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for her career. She has already scored 1,500 career points and will likely reach 1,000 career rebounds next season.
The fifth-year-to-be was part of Notre Dame’s “Big 3” in 2023–24, alongside All-American point guard Hannah Hidalgo and All-ACC guard Sonia Citron. That Big 3 will likely be a Fab Four in 2024–25 as star point guard Olivia Miles is expected to return after a knee injury kept her sidelined all of last season.
Ivey should be raring for the upcoming year to start given the prospect of a starting lineup featuring Miles, Hidalgo, Citron, Westbeld and any of Kylee Watson, Nat Marshall (both rising fifth-years) or five-star freshman center Kate Koval. Irish fans should feel the same.