Notre Dame freshman Bella Ragone cleared to play after nearly yearlong injury recovery

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- Notre Dame women’s basketball freshman guard Bella Ragone has officially been medically cleared to return to the court after spending nearly a year recovering from a knee injury.

Ragone told ABC57 on Wednesday that she received medical clearance two weeks ago, ending an 11½-month absence from basketball. However, she emphasized that being cleared to play and being game-ready are two different things.

“There is the progression part. You can’t just throw someone back onto the court and say, ‘Hey, just go out there and play,’ especially when you haven’t done that in 11 and a half months,” Ragone said. “I’m getting my feet under me. I’m figuring things out again.”

Her return has been gradual, beginning with one-on-one drills before progressing to five-on-five action. Beyond the physical challenges, Ragone said one of her biggest adjustments has been adapting to the speed of college basketball.

She credited teammate Hannah Hidalgo with pushing her during practices and teaching her the importance of moving past mistakes.

Throughout her recovery, head coach Niele Ivey also encouraged Ragone to focus on becoming a better teammate, even while sidelined.

Ragone said the experience has strengthened her mentally and changed her perspective on the game.

“Now that I know when I go on the court, I’m gonna push myself as hard as I can and farther because I know what hard looks like,” Ragone said.

As Notre Dame prepares to open its season against Villanova in Rome, Ragone believes her shooting and rebounding abilities can help the Irish.

Athletics also run in her family. Her father is a quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams, while her mother played college basketball at Louisville.

Whether Ragone will see playing time in Rome remains uncertain, but after nearly a year away from the game, the freshman has already reached a significant milestone in her comeback.