2026-27 Recruiting Report: as of April 21st, 2025

Spring Greetings, Benchers:

Welcome to the initial edition of the 2026-27 ND Women’s Basketball Recruiting Update, which concentrates on the Irish class that will suit up in Fall 2026. It will also take a look at prospects/interactions with those in the Class of 2027, as well as a few 2028 interactions.

Until Feb 28, 2025, Women's College Basketball is in an "Evaluation Period" (save for Dec. 24-26, which is a "dead" period.). During an Evaluation Period, "...it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to be involved in off-campus activities designed to assess the academic qualifications and athletic ability of prospective student-athletes. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall be made with the prospective student-athlete during an evaluation period."

PERSONNEL OVERVIEW
(Chart by BabaGhanouj)

Let's examine the current, overall recruiting state-of-play:

- Coach ivey & her staff have procured one incoming recruit two years running -- Post Kate Koval in the Class of 2024 and Forward Leah Macy of the upcoming Class of 2025.
- Ivey filled holes in the roster by using the transfer portal to bring in forward/post Liza Karlen and forward Liatu King. This would've given the Irish a full roster of 12 players, including Kylee Watson, suffered a knee injury at the end of 203-24 season and -- this point -- looks as if she won't be playing this year. Then, KK Bransford decided to take this year over to address lingering leg issues. So, in effect, the Irish roster is at 12, but two of those slots are two injured Irish who have not played and a walk-on who earned a scholarship, but is certainly not part of the rotation Coach Ivey likes to keep her roster on the smaller side for a variety of reasons, but this can't be how she saw this playing out.
-Following the '24-'25 season, Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King and Liza Karlen will have exhausted their eligibility. Olivia Miles will also have a year of eligibility, but has also been projected as a lottery pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.
- Presuming no transfers or further injuries this could leave: post Kate Koval, forward Leah Macy, point guard Hannah Hidalgo, guard KK Bransford, guard/wing Cass Prosper and Emma Risch; along with Kylee Watson,, if she chooses to play for the Irish That's a total of 7 (8 if Miles returns).
Even with a roster of 10, Coach Ivey will have to find three players in a transfer portal pool that will no longer have largely graduated players utilizing a Covid year of eligibility. While ND has brought in non-grad students (Dara Mabrey, Kylee Watson), it could be a tougher "get."
- In 2026, Watson's eligibility will be over and Cass Prosper can move onto the pro's. Regardless of what year, this year's incoming transfers are, the Irish will need a lot of players at a variety of positions in the summer/fall of 2026.

Let's go position-by position.

FORWARDS/POSTS

Context
- in the beginning of the 2026-27 year, ND will have the center position filled by a junior (Koval) and the forward by a sophomore (Macy). Assuming the two progress as expected, that's solid start. But that's it, based on what Coach Ivey brings in the transfer portal this off-season.

So these are positions that will have a strong focus by the ND coaching staff.

Class of 2026

- McKenna Woliczko (#6 HG, #5 Prospects Nation, #12 ASGR) 6'2" wing/forward from Archbishop Mitty, who was named to all-Tournament Team at the recent U-16 Americas Tournament in Mexico. Very versatile, athletic player who probably played more as a forward for the U.S., much like Sonia Citron has. ND offered her in late June 2023 and family (dad) appears to be an Irish fan. Made U.S.A. U-17 Nat'l. Team in Summer 2024. Coach Owens went to an Archbishop Mitty open gym Oct. 1st, 2024. Woliczko listed ND as one of her 10 finalists in late 2024. Unfortunately, she tore an ACL in January 2025.
- Oliviyah Edwards (#4 HG, #4 PN, #5 ASGR) 6'3" forward from Tacoma, Elite Sports Academy and NW Greyhounds who named ND one her 10 finalists as of June 1, 2024. ASGR: "Superior athlete explosive leaper college body runs R/R, scores R, shoot's 3" Will keep track of another "Big Oh," but she sure sounds like a Liatu King or Alyssa Latham who can be an athletic force in the paint...and shoot from distance. Coach Owens attended an open gym session of hers in October '24. Edwards has taken some high-profile Unofficial visits; most notably to S. Carolina.

Class of 2026 Going Elsewhere

- Olivia Vukosa (#5 HG), 6'4" post from Christ the King H.S. (NY). The Big O received an offer from ND awhile back, but there never seemed to be that much mutual attraction, perhaps because Kate Koval decided to attend ND. In any case, Vukosa didn't choose the Irish for her list of finalists, which includes: UNC, Ohio State, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas, UConn and LSU.

Class of 2027

- Caroline Bradley (#5 HG, #8 ASGR), a 6'5" center from Oak Grove HS in Louisiana (about 115 miles from Jackson, MS), who was offered in mid-August 2024. Played in Under Armour Next Elite 24, an invitational in Brookyn for top players in classes of 2025, '26 and '27.
- Nation Williams (#11 Hoopgurlz, NR ASGR), a 6'2" forward from Centennial H.S. in Las Vegas, Nevada. Received offer from ND in Summer 2024.
- Jayla Forbes (#13 Hoopgurlz, NR ASGR, a 6'6" center from Thompson H.S. in Alabama, who took an unofficial visit to ND in July and received an offer.
- Sydney Mobley (#23 HG, #19 PN, #23) a 6'2" forward from Big Walnut (Ohio) High School and West Virginia Thunder AAU, took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame during the March 2, 2025, Louisville game. Recived offer from ND during that visit. ASGR says: "Skilled-strong frame-good vision IQ-can play multiple positions-Has Sarah Strong game" She plays for same AAU program that Leah Macy does.

Class of 2028

- Janaya Cooper, 5'10" forward from Ft. Wayne, who plays for Nelson Snider High School and Always 100 Elite 2028. Received an offer from ND following the UVA-ND game on Dec. 29, 2024, which she attended. Being courted/followed by Asst. Coach Charel Allen. Bears physical resemblance and playing style of Liatu King, but has outside shot, according to Bencher mwayne, who has seen her play. "Dowwnnn the road, but keep track."

GUARD/WING

The 2025-26 season will probably find Cass Prosper in the pro's. It will be KK Bransford's last year ol eligibility, if she chooses to use it.
Even with a transfer coming in prior to the 2025 season who has multiple years of eligibility, ND will need guards/wings...and a number of them.

Class of 2026

- Saniyah Hall (#1 in Hoopgurlz, #1 in Prospects Nation, #2 ASGR) is a five-star, 6'1" guard, who plays for Laurel High School in Ohio and Legends P24. Has an offer from Notre Dame, as well as UConn, Southern Cal and Baylor, among other schools.
- Jacy Abii (#7 in Hoopgurlz, #4 in ASGR), a 6'1" guard from Plano, Texas who attends Liberty High School. Made and played for U.S.A. U-16 Team in recent Americas Tournament in Mexico, averaging 8.3 ppg, 5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 17 minutes per game. Tall, rangy build who appears to use all three aspects of of offensive game (driving, mid-range and long-range). ND offered in late June '23. Made U.S.A. U-17 Nat'l. Team in Summer 2024.
Named ND one of her 15 finalists in December 2024. Took an unofficial trip to ND during the Cal weekend Feb. 7-9, 2025.
- Brihanna Crittendon (HG #8, PN #8, ASGR #11), a 6'2" wing from Riverdale HS, CO, and Colorado Lockdown AAU, who was offered on July 26, 2024.
- Jayla Jordyn Jackson (#9 Hoopgurlz, #8 PN, #18 ASGR), a 6'1" wing from Arlington, Va. who attends Sidwell Friends in the District of Columbia. Has ND as one of the 16 schools she's currently considering. Sidwell Friends have produced prospects who list ND as semi- or even finalists but have gone elsewhere (Donovan to Duke, Dudley to UCLA). Could this be different. Long way to go, so stay tuned.
- Addison Bjorn (#10 in Hoopgurlz, #13 in PN, #16 in ASGR), a 6'2" guard/wing from Park Hiil South in Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Played on U.S.A. U-16 Team in Mexico. Publicized offer from ND in late June. Took unofficial visit to ND and posted in Winter 2024. UConn also expressing strong interest, offer. Made U.S.A. U-17 Nat'l. Team in Summer 2024. M. Mabrey visited Bjorn's HS informal shoot-around in early Sept. 2024. Made another unofficial visit to Notre Dame during Stanford game in Oct. 2024. In Jan. 2025, named ND one her "final" 15 schools.
- Savvy Swords (#13 HG, #14 PN, #25 for ASGR), 6'2" wing from Canada who plays for Lutheran High School in Long Island, NY, as well as the Kia Nurse AAU program. Played alongside her sister Syla (now at Michigan) and Post Kate Koval (now at Notre Dame). Was offered by NY in 2023 and took unofficial visit to ND in mid-Sept. 2024.
- Isabella "Bella" Ragone (#28 HG, #26 in ASGR), a 6'2" wing from Mill Creek H.S. in Georgia who announced she received an offer from ND in mid-September. Ragone visited ND in October 2023. ND went to see her in Nov. 2024, so still mutual interest. Ragone took an official visit to ND during Easter weekend in April 2025 and posted numerous pics, video on Instagram.
-- Amari Byles (#17 Hoopgurlz, #10 PN, #7 ASGR). 6'2" wing from DeSoto, TX, who was given an offer by Niele Ivey. Smooth wing/tall guard who is adept at driving and has good form on her jumper. Named ND one of 15 schools she's considering, as of mid-January 2025.
- Jenica Raine (Lewis). (#15 Hoopgurlz, #30 PN, #18 ASGR). 5'10" combo guard who plays for Johnston HS in Iowa and All Iowa Attack. Offered by ND in mid-July 2023 and mentions Coach(es) Ivey and Mabrey. Took unofficial visit to ND during Stanford game in Oct. '24.
- Olivia Jones (Hoopgurlz #22, #21 PN, #32 ASGR), a 6'0" combo guard from Lutheran High School (LuHi) in Brookville, Long Island, NY, who plays fro Exodus EYBL in AAU. Received an offer from ND in February 2025 and visited ND during the Cal game in early February. Has also received offers from other ACC colleges (Pitt, Syracuse), B1G schools (Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State) and the Ivies (Columbia, Harvard).
- Sanai Green (Hoopgurlz #27, Prospects Nation #16, ASGR #11), a 6'1" wing from Virginia, who plays club ball for Elevate Elite and is now playing for LuHi in Long Island. Asst. Coach Charel Allen saw her during a Steward School (Va.) shoot-around in mid-September. She has an offer from ND, as does LuHi teammate Savvy Swords.

Class of 2027

- Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka (Hoopgurlz #2, NR ASGR), a 6'2" guard from The Bullis School in Maryland, who received an offer from ND in Feb. 2024.

- Jordyn Palmer (#4 in Hoopgurlz, #5 ASGR), a 6'1" wing from Westtown, Pa., and the Philly Rise. Received offer from ND in Summer 2024 and Irish coaches attended Westtown HS shoot-around in Sept. '24.

POINT GUARDS
Context:
In the 2025-26 season, it's expected (by many) that Hannah Hidalgo will revert to the primary point guard role, with KK Bransford spelling her in half-court sets from time to time. This could also be the situation in 2026-27, but the Irish could really use a major hit at point guard to learn from/play with HH for a year before taking over the reins full time in the next season.

Class of 2026

- Kate Harpering (#2 HG, #2 PN, 14 ASGR), 5'10" point guard from Marish High School and Southeast All Stars in Atlanta, Ga., who received an offer from Coach Ivey in mid-July. High-scoring and hard-nosed PG who led her HS team to a state title is the daughter of former NBA player Matt Harpring. Harpring was offered by ND in July 2024 took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame on Sept. 27-28 during Louisville football weekend.
- Autumn Fleary (#14 HG, #17 PN, #13 ASGR), a 5'7" point guard from Maryland who attends Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C. and plays club ball for Team Takeover EYBC. Was offered by Coach Ivey in early September 2024 and visited Notre Dame for an unofficial visit with her mother. ND made Fleary's Top 12 list in Oct. 2024.

Class of 2027

- Kaleena Smith (#1 Hoopgurlz), 5'6" point guard from Ontario Christian H.S. in California. Received offer from ND in Summer 2024. Also received a major NIL deal, thought to be the earliest and largest for a high-school female player to this point.

- Jezelle ‘G.G.’ Banks (#6 Hoopgurlz), 5'10" point guard from Ursuline Academy, Del. Received offer from Coach Ivey in January 2025. Also has offers from South Carolina, LSU and Texas, among others. Known as both an adept ball handler and outside shooter, she's played for U.S.A. Basketball.

Regarding This Information

As most Benchers know:
- We rely on input from Benchers, publications, blogs and outside information; even posters from other sites. We try to verify claims, so it does not become a rumor board
- We include up-to-date ratings of Hoopgurlz, ASGR & Prospects Nation. These ratings are not the defining input on a prospect by any means, but can offer context relative to other prospects if a reader is not familiar with that player’s game.
- Same goes for recent developments and heights. We tend to use national team listings and/or informed local descriptions.
- Please take in posts/insights/links/research by Baba Ghanouj, Fighting Artichoke, MPG, Domerduck, RI Steve, Cbiebel, NDoggie78, No Right Turn on Red, JBC_MO, mwayne and others who scour the internet for more information/tape. Any and all information is appreciated.

- ND Hoops Recruits
@NDHoopsRecruits

Lastly, here are some recruiting sites that have prospect reviews and/or ratings. These are all free, so use these addresses to bookmark 'em. Thanks to Baba:

https://www.bluestarbb.com
https://prospectsnation.com
https://asgrbasketball.com/?v=f24485ae434a#
https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/2022-rankings/
https://jrallstar.com/rankings/?filter=National,2022