As ND Women’s BB team prepares for the '25 NCAA Tourney - it seemed like a good time to take a look into the future of the program from a fans perspective and it is concerning. Sure, there is a lot of time between now and the start of next season, but a lot of work that will need to take place immediately after this season by being very active with the transfer portal.
The ‘25-’26 roster is minimalistic at best and ND will have to rely on at least 3-4 transfers to fill out a “scholarship” roster (provided that no one transfers out) with returners - Hannah Hidalgo, KK Bransford, Emma Risch, Cass Prosper, Kate Koval and incoming freshman - Leah Macy. Kylee Watson needs a medical waiver to return next year and the status of the walk-ons (Jansen and Tehrani) are probably tbd.
The last 2 recruiting classes have consisted of 1 commitment each year (Koval-‘24 and Macy-‘25) and it has yet to be disclosed if Macy will be available for this upcoming year. That is very thin and how long can ND sustain an elite program relying on incoming transfers?
Moving past the '25-'26 season:
Based on the information @Eric Hansen and @Tyler James have been able to extract from a very secretive ND WBB staff and other publicly available info - ND has made about 12 offers to '26 HS recruits. An * indicates the recruit has included ND in their current list of schools they are considering and ^ indicates no currently available info concerning their continued interest with ND.
* Jacy Abil - 6’1” W, Legion Prep Academy, Dallas TX. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is in her list of 16 teams released Dec 2024]
* Addison Bjorn - 6’1” PG, Park High South HS, Riverside, MO. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is in her list of 15 teams released Jan 2025]
* Amari Byles - 6’2” W, Faith Family Academy, Oak Cliff, TX. [Offered - August 2023 and ND is in her list of 15 teams released Jan 2025]
* Oliviyah Edwards - 6’3” F, Elite Prep Academy, Issaquah, WA. [Offered - August 2022 and ND is in her list of 10 teams released June 2024]
* Autumn Fleary - 5’8” PG, Sidwell Friends School, Washington DC. [Offered - September 2024 and ND is listed in her 12 teams released Oct 2024]
* McKenna Woliczko - 6’2” W, Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose, CA. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is listed in her 10 teams released Nov 2024]
^ Brihanna Crittendon - 6’3” W, Riverdale Ridge HS, Thornton, CO. [Offered - July 2024]
^ Kate Harpring - 5’-8” CG, Marist HS, Atlanta, GA. [Offered - July 2024]
^ Olivia Jones - 6’ CG, Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, NY. [Offered - Feb 2025]
^ Jenica Lewis - 5’10” CG, Johnston HS, Johnston, IA. [Offered - July 2023]
^ Bella Ragone - 6’2” W, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA. [Offered - September 2023]
It was unclear if ND has offered these recruits:
Savvy Swords - 6’2” W, Long Island Lutheran. [She listed ND in her “Final 5” - Feb ‘25]
Sanai Green - 6’1” SG/W, Long Island Lutheran. [Currently considering ND]
Unfortunately, ND is no longer in the running for Olivia Vukosa (ESPN #4 - 6'4” P) and Jordyn Jackson (ESPN #9 - 6’1” W).
IMO, Coach Ivey is approaching a critical ‘26 HS recruiting cycle and 1-2 recruits will not come close to what is needed to maintain an elite ND program.
None of this information came from a "premium" or "pay" site.
The ‘25-’26 roster is minimalistic at best and ND will have to rely on at least 3-4 transfers to fill out a “scholarship” roster (provided that no one transfers out) with returners - Hannah Hidalgo, KK Bransford, Emma Risch, Cass Prosper, Kate Koval and incoming freshman - Leah Macy. Kylee Watson needs a medical waiver to return next year and the status of the walk-ons (Jansen and Tehrani) are probably tbd.
The last 2 recruiting classes have consisted of 1 commitment each year (Koval-‘24 and Macy-‘25) and it has yet to be disclosed if Macy will be available for this upcoming year. That is very thin and how long can ND sustain an elite program relying on incoming transfers?
Moving past the '25-'26 season:
Based on the information @Eric Hansen and @Tyler James have been able to extract from a very secretive ND WBB staff and other publicly available info - ND has made about 12 offers to '26 HS recruits. An * indicates the recruit has included ND in their current list of schools they are considering and ^ indicates no currently available info concerning their continued interest with ND.
* Jacy Abil - 6’1” W, Legion Prep Academy, Dallas TX. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is in her list of 16 teams released Dec 2024]
* Addison Bjorn - 6’1” PG, Park High South HS, Riverside, MO. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is in her list of 15 teams released Jan 2025]
* Amari Byles - 6’2” W, Faith Family Academy, Oak Cliff, TX. [Offered - August 2023 and ND is in her list of 15 teams released Jan 2025]
* Oliviyah Edwards - 6’3” F, Elite Prep Academy, Issaquah, WA. [Offered - August 2022 and ND is in her list of 10 teams released June 2024]
* Autumn Fleary - 5’8” PG, Sidwell Friends School, Washington DC. [Offered - September 2024 and ND is listed in her 12 teams released Oct 2024]
* McKenna Woliczko - 6’2” W, Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose, CA. [Offered - June 2023 and ND is listed in her 10 teams released Nov 2024]
^ Brihanna Crittendon - 6’3” W, Riverdale Ridge HS, Thornton, CO. [Offered - July 2024]
^ Kate Harpring - 5’-8” CG, Marist HS, Atlanta, GA. [Offered - July 2024]
^ Olivia Jones - 6’ CG, Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, NY. [Offered - Feb 2025]
^ Jenica Lewis - 5’10” CG, Johnston HS, Johnston, IA. [Offered - July 2023]
^ Bella Ragone - 6’2” W, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA. [Offered - September 2023]
It was unclear if ND has offered these recruits:
Savvy Swords - 6’2” W, Long Island Lutheran. [She listed ND in her “Final 5” - Feb ‘25]
Sanai Green - 6’1” SG/W, Long Island Lutheran. [Currently considering ND]
Unfortunately, ND is no longer in the running for Olivia Vukosa (ESPN #4 - 6'4” P) and Jordyn Jackson (ESPN #9 - 6’1” W).
IMO, Coach Ivey is approaching a critical ‘26 HS recruiting cycle and 1-2 recruits will not come close to what is needed to maintain an elite ND program.
None of this information came from a "premium" or "pay" site.
