On an evening constructed on nostalgia and new beginnings, three of Notre Dame’s best girls’s basketball gamers returned to their faculty dwelling ground — this time as professionals.
Jackie Younger, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jewell Loyd had been again beneath the lights at Purcell Pavilion because the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Dallas Wings 112–78 within the WNBA’s 2025 preseason opener. The nationally televised showcase introduced collectively a packed crowd energized and grateful to see acquainted faces on the court docket, spotlighting a number of the most embellished gamers in Irish historical past.
Dallas led 25–23 after the primary quarter, however Las Vegas took management with an 18–3 run to open the second. The Aces outscored the Wings 32–11 within the interval and by no means seemed again. Whereas the result was by no means doubtful after halftime, the environment remained charged with recollections, together with Notre Dame highlights combined into the video package deal performed to introduce the beginning lineups. This offered an opportunity for the group to indicate appreciation to stars they supported earlier than reaching the WNBA.
Jackie Younger Leads the Method in Dominant Return
Jackie Younger delivered a efficiency worthy of the homecoming. The 2018 NCAA champion completed with a game-high 28 factors, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and no turnovers in just below half-hour.
Younger stated she is lastly feeling like herself once more bodily after battling lingering points.
“Yeah, I really feel good,” she stated. “Clearly, I wasn’t myself most of final season, and so it took a while within the offseason to determine that out. Nonetheless wasn’t myself at Unmatched, however I feel we’re lastly again to the place we must be.”
She credited the Aces’ defensive power for setting the tone early.
“I feel it began on the defensive finish for us — simply getting stops — and we had been in a position to get stepping into transition,” she stated. “Then I feel simply being aggressive on the offensive finish, attempting to get downhill and decide, whether or not that was to complete or to kick it out to my teammates.”
Jackie Younger tonight 🔥
• 28 factors • 9 assists • 5 rebounds • 3 steals
pic.twitter.com/XkuE55aw2E
— Girls’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) Might 3, 2025
Younger, who went 13-of-13 from the road, stated her focus was on staying aggressive and ending via contact.
“I used to be glad I used to be getting these calls, however I used to be simply attempting to get downhill and be aggressive,” she stated. “A very powerful factor is simply specializing in ending the shot, whether or not or not the foul known as. Tonight I used to be in a position to get the whistle.”
Talking in regards to the feelings of taking part in at Notre Dame once more, Younger mirrored on the expertise of returning to a spot crammed with so many recollections.
“I by no means thought I’d play right here once more,” she stated. “Having the ability to be right here and play in entrance of my family and friends, it was particular for certain. Taking part in right here with Jewell and towards Arike was a cool alternative.”
She additionally talked about her tutorial targets, including that she nonetheless has coursework left to finish her Notre Dame diploma.
“I used to be proud of my resolution that I made to return out early [for the WNBA Draft],” she stated. “So, everybody is aware of I did that for my household, to simply be capable to present for them and assist them. … I’ve like 11–13 credit [left to complete]. I’ve to complete at Notre Dame. I’ve performed every part I can do on-line. However I’ll end that sooner or later.”
Jewell Loyd Embraces Recent Begin with Las Vegas Aces
Jewell Loyd made her preseason debut with the Aces after 10 seasons with the Seattle Storm. The 2-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star scored 10 factors in 21 minutes and shared why the transfer to Las Vegas felt like the precise change on the proper time.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a rebirth, however simply contemporary air,” Loyd stated. “I’m at all times somebody who needs to study extra. I don’t assume I’ve plateaued, and I don’t wish to plateau. Being right here with Vegas has allowed me to maintain exploring on and off the court docket.”
Niele Ivey reveals like to her former gamers Jackie Younger and Jewell Loyd after their win over Dallas, and Jewell shares simply how a lot Coach Ivey means to her 🧡 pic.twitter.com/LPzAIIHMnh
— WNBA (@WNBA) Might 3, 2025
Earlier within the day, through the Aces’ morning shootaround, Loyd sank a halfcourt shot to win a guess with Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey.
“It felt good,” she stated. “It’s a little bit little bit of the luck of the Irish, so I’ll take it.”
Loyd additionally praised the WNBA’s preseason college-campus initiative, calling it a novel and significant gesture.
“It is smart,” Loyd stated. “It’s tremendous cool.”
Arike Ogunbowale Displays on Homecoming
Returning to the ground the place she made NCAA Match historical past, Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale described the feelings of strolling again into Purcell Pavilion.
“You don’t actually assume you’re ever going to have the ability to come again and play in entrance of the followers once more,” she stated. “So the truth that they’re doing that for us in preseason and discovering the time — it’s particular.”
Ogunbowale stated it was highly effective to see acquainted faces within the stands and on the sidelines.
“Simply coming to South Bend and having the ability for my teammates to return assist this,” she stated. “Seeing the followers — for me, Jackie and Jewell — simply seeing our previous followers, our previous coaches. Taking part in someplace we grew up at, the place we grew to become who we had been.”
Now coming into her seventh season within the WNBA, Ogunbowale pointed to the teachings she discovered at Notre Dame beneath coaches like Muffet McGraw and Niele Ivey.
“We come from hardworking girls as coaches again after we had been at Notre Dame,” she stated. “That transferred to the WNBA. [Ivey] remains to be one of many hardest staff I do know — similar to everyone that went right here again within the day. I’m glad that she’s actually profitable within the league now.”
That connection to the Notre Dame program stays robust, as Ogunbowale shared that she recurrently watches Irish video games through the WNBA season.
“Yeah, I watch them on a regular basis,” she stated. “That’s in all probability probably the most faculty basketball I watch — once I’m taking part in, I watch Notre Dame.”
She additionally spoke about checking in on former Irish guard Olivia Miles throughout her restoration.
“I checked up on her,” she stated. “She was at all times good, although. She’s a really God-driven, devoted lady. So she is aware of every part occurs for a cause, and she or he’s at all times going to be good.”
Ogunbowale scored 5 factors in 23 minutes in Friday’s exhibition, however her presence in South Bend was about greater than the field rating.
“I haven’t performed there since my final recreation as a senior,” she stated. “On the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless coaching camp. We’re nonetheless taking part in everyone. So there’s nothing actually on this recreation. I’m simply treating it as a particular recreation, a particular night time — however there’s no stress.”
