Notre Dame celebrates National Women in Sports Day with legacy of excellence

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrates the voices, leaders and champions who continue to shape athletics, and at Notre Dame, women’s sports are not just part of the conversation — they help lead it.

Notre Dame fields 12 women’s varsity programs and has captured 16 national championships across multiple sports. That success, however, was built over decades, beginning in 1972 when women were first admitted to the University of Notre Dame.

Four years later, in 1976, the university launched its first women’s varsity sport with tennis, turning access into opportunity and signaling a long-term commitment to women’s athletics.

A defining chapter arrived in 1995 with the hiring of Muffet McGraw, who elevated the women’s basketball program to national prominence. Under McGraw, Notre Dame won national championships in 2001 and 2018, and Final Four appearances became an expectation rather than an exception.

When McGraw retired in 2019, her impact extended far beyond banners and trophies. The foundation she built became part of the program’s identity, one that continues under head coach Niele Ivey.

“I know that it’s a powerful position that I’m in, and I’m grateful and blessed to be able to come into work every day and do what I love at the university that I love,” Ivey said. “I know that this position is very important, and I don’t take that lightly.”

Today, that legacy continues with a new generation of athletes, including standout guard Hannah Hidalgo, who represents what Notre Dame women’s athletics has become — elite and central to the university’s identity.

The Irish will be back on the court Wednesday when the Notre Dame women’s basketball team faces Virginia Tech. ABC57 will provide full coverage of the matchup.