South Bend, IN – Sunday marked a significant day for the Notre Dame Women’s Basketball team as the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee revealed their top 16 teams. Notre Dame captured a one-seed for the first time in program history by landing at the No. 4 overall spot. The excitement was palpable as the Fighting Irish players celebrated their ranking, which became even sweeter after defeating the ranked Duke team later that day in South Bend.
Head coach Niele Ivey expressed her emotions during the postgame conference, highlighting how special the moment felt for everyone involved. “My heart was beating fast on that one because it’s never happened for us,” Ivey shared, reflecting on the joy of the team’s accomplishment. “The embrace and the cheers, that was different. This group, we’ve never experienced that. So, I thought that was a special moment.”
As of now, Notre Dame boasts a remarkable record of 22-2, with only two losses this season. They have also dominated the ACC, remaining undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record after their victory over Duke. Their performance recently earned them the top spot in the AP poll, narrowly surpassing Texas.
However, there’s a notable distinction between the AP poll and the NCAA selection committee in terms of elite wins. Notre Dame currently holds just five Quad 1 victories alongside their two losses. Sunday’s win over Duke provided a significant boost to their resume as they continue their pursuit of a top seed.
Despite the excitement of the ranking reveal, Ivey made sure her team stayed focused on the upcoming game. “Then, I was like ‘Okay, game.’ You can feel it for a second and then realize there’s a big task ahead of you. But that’s a special moment I’ll always have with this team,” Ivey remarked, demonstrating her leadership skills in keeping players grounded.
Looking ahead, the Fighting Irish have only four games left in the regular season. Their next two contests will be away games against Miami and No. 13 NC State before returning to South Bend to host Florida State and Louisville. Finishing the season strong could potentially lock in a one-seed for Notre Dame, a landmark achievement under Ivey’s leadership.
