College Basketball
Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Is Trouble Brewing for Coach Niele Ivey?
David Evans is an experienced sports journalist with over 15 years in the field. He is known for his reliable and insightful commentary, which has been featured on numerous top sports betting platforms. David specializes in North Carolina basketball, college football, the NFL, soccer, and golf, offering deep knowledge and straightforward analysis in his articles. Outside of work, David stays active with regular gym workouts and enjoys relaxing at home with his cat. With a solid blend of experience and passion, David is a well-respected name in sports journalism, consistently providing valuable and informative content to his readers.
Get to know David Evans betterPublished03 Apr 2025
Four players have entered the transfer portal from Notre Dame women’s basketball in the past week, including All-American guard Olivia Miles and standout freshman center Kate Koval. Add in Emma Risch and Kylee Watson, and it’s a full-blown roster shake-up. This isn’t just normal offseason movement. It suggests deeper issues inside the program.
Which Players Are Leaving Notre Dame?
- Olivia Miles: Former All-American and projected WNBA lottery pick.
- Kate Koval: Freshman starter, led the team in blocks.
- Emma Risch: Former top-30 recruit, saw limited action due to injury.
- Kylee Watson: Senior leader who missed the season with an ACL injury.
Why Are So Many Players Transferring From Notre Dame?
Sources familiar with the situation say some players were frustrated with how head coach Niele Ivey managed the season. After a key loss to Florida State, Ivey publicly criticized the team’s defense. While she didn’t single anyone out, players reportedly didn’t like being called out in the media—even indirectly.
There’s also been tension around strategy. Some players disagreed with offensive schemes and felt the program wasn’t setting them up for success. That dissatisfaction has now led multiple core players to walk away.
Is Hannah Hidalgo to Blame for Transfers?
With so many of Notre Dame’s players entering the transfer portal, I often think of Muffet McGraw’s comments on how spreading or defending homophobia is not only in poor choice but how it can impact a locker room. People have to pick which side of history they want to be on. https://t.co/dZ2JiZlf6Q pic.twitter.com/4K2p8Ji4cj
— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) April 2, 2025
Another possible factor behind the recent transfers could be the controversy involving Hannah Hidalgo. Last year, she posted a video featuring Candace Owens calling same-sex marriage a “sin.” The post was deleted, but not before drawing backlash—including public criticism from former coach Muffet McGraw.
While none of the departing players have addressed the issue publicly, it’s reasonable to question whether the incident affected locker room dynamics. For players who identify as LGBTQ+ or support those who do, that kind of message—especially from the team’s star—could have made staying at Notre Dame less appealing.
Rebuild Mode Activated
At the time of this writing, there are only three returnees on the roster heading into next season. With Olivia Miles searching for her next team in the transfer portal and foregoing the WNBA Draft, several questions have arose about the state of the Notre Dame women’s basketball program.
Suddenly, the program is now faces a full rebuild. With multiple starters gone and the roster stripped to its core, the coaching staff has no choice but to turn aggressively to the transfer portal to field a competitive roster. This isn’t a situation where you plug a few holes—it’s a complete reset. The question isn’t just who they’ll bring in, but whether the program can re-establish trust and stability quickly enough to stay competitive in the ACC.
When four players, including your top talent, leave in one week, it’s not about minutes or injury rehab. It’s about leadership, messaging, and direction—all of which seem to be a problem for Notre Dame right now.
