On a night built on nostalgia and new beginnings, three of Notre Dame’s greatest women’s basketball players returned to their college home floor — this time as professionals.
Jackie Young, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jewell Loyd were back under the lights at Purcell Pavilion as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Dallas Wings 112–78 in the WNBA’s 2025 preseason opener. The nationally televised showcase brought together a packed crowd energized and grateful to see familiar faces on the court, spotlighting some of the most decorated players in Irish history.
Dallas led 25–23 after the first quarter, but Las Vegas took control with an 18–3 run to open the second. The Aces outscored the Wings 32–11 in the period and never looked back. While the outcome was never in doubt after halftime, the atmosphere remained charged with memories, including Notre Dame highlights mixed into the video package played to introduce the starting lineups. This provided a chance for the crowd to show appreciation to stars they supported before reaching the WNBA.
Jackie Young Leads the Way in Dominant Return
Jackie Young delivered a performance worthy of the homecoming. The 2018 NCAA champion finished with a game-high 28 points, nine assists, five rebounds and no turnovers in just under 30 minutes.
Young said she is finally feeling like herself again physically after battling lingering issues.
“Yeah, I feel good,” she said. “Obviously, I wasn’t myself most of last season, and so it took some time in the offseason to figure that out. Still wasn’t myself at Unrivaled, but I think we’re finally back to where we need to be.”
She credited the Aces’ defensive energy for setting the tone early.
“I think it started on the defensive end for us — just getting stops — and we were able to get going in transition,” she said. “Then I think just being aggressive on the offensive end, trying to get downhill and make a decision, whether that was to finish or to kick it out to my teammates.”
Jackie Young tonight 🔥
• 28 points • 9 assists • 5 rebounds • 3 steals
pic.twitter.com/XkuE55aw2E
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 3, 2025
Young, who went 13-of-13 from the line, said her focus was on staying aggressive and finishing through contact.
“I was happy I was getting those calls, but I was just trying to get downhill and be aggressive,” she said. “The most important thing is just focusing on finishing the shot, whether or not the foul is called. Tonight I was able to get the whistle.”
Speaking about the emotions of playing at Notre Dame again, Young reflected on the experience of returning to a place filled with so many memories.
“I never thought I’d play here again,” she said. “Being able to be here and play in front of my friends and family, it was special for sure. Playing here with Jewell and against Arike was a cool opportunity.”
She also mentioned her academic goals, adding that she still has coursework left to complete her Notre Dame degree.
“I was happy with my decision that I made to come out early [for the WNBA Draft],” she said. “So, everyone knows I did that for my family, to just be able to provide for them and help them. … I have like 11–13 credits [left to complete]. I have to finish at Notre Dame. I’ve done everything I can do online. But I’ll finish that at some point.”
Jewell Loyd Embraces Fresh Start with Las Vegas Aces
Jewell Loyd made her preseason debut with the Aces after 10 seasons with the Seattle Storm. The two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star scored 10 points in 21 minutes and shared why the move to Las Vegas felt like the right change at the right time.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a rebirth, but just fresh air,” Loyd said. “I’m always someone who wants to learn more. I don’t think I’ve plateaued, and I don’t want to plateau. Being here with Vegas has allowed me to keep exploring on and off the court.”
Niele Ivey shows love to her former players Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd after their win over Dallas, and Jewell shares just how much Coach Ivey means to her 🧡 pic.twitter.com/LPzAIIHMnh
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 3, 2025
Earlier in the day, during the Aces’ morning shootaround, Loyd sank a halfcourt shot to win a bet with Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey.
“It felt good,” she said. “It’s a little bit of the luck of the Irish, so I’ll take it.”
Loyd also praised the WNBA’s preseason college-campus initiative, calling it a unique and meaningful gesture.
“It makes sense,” Loyd said. “It’s super cool.”
Arike Ogunbowale Reflects on Homecoming
Returning to the floor where she made NCAA Tournament history, Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale described the emotions of walking back into Purcell Pavilion.
“You don’t really think you’re ever going to be able to come back and play in front of the fans again,” she said. “So the fact that they’re doing that for us in preseason and finding the time — it’s special.”
Ogunbowale said it was powerful to see familiar faces in the stands and on the sidelines.
“Just coming to South Bend and being able for my teammates to come support this,” she said. “Seeing the fans — for me, Jackie and Jewell — just seeing our old fans, our old coaches. Playing somewhere we grew up at, where we became who we were.”
Now entering her seventh season in the WNBA, Ogunbowale pointed to the lessons she learned at Notre Dame under coaches like Muffet McGraw and Niele Ivey.
“We come from hardworking women as coaches back when we were at Notre Dame,” she said. “That transferred to the WNBA. [Ivey] is still one of the hardest workers I know — just like everybody that went here back in the day. I’m glad that she’s really successful in the league now.”
That connection to the Notre Dame program remains strong, as Ogunbowale shared that she regularly watches Irish games during the WNBA season.
“Yeah, I watch them all the time,” she said. “That’s probably the most college basketball I watch — when I’m playing, I watch Notre Dame.”
She also spoke about checking in on former Irish guard Olivia Miles during her recovery.
“I checked up on her,” she said. “She was always good, though. She’s a very God-driven, faithful woman. So she knows everything happens for a reason, and she’s always going to be good.”
Ogunbowale scored five points in 23 minutes in Friday’s exhibition, but her presence in South Bend was about more than the box score.
“I haven’t played there since my last game as a senior,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s still training camp. We’re still playing everybody. So there’s nothing really on this game. I’m just treating it as a special game, a special night — but there’s no pressure.”
