Women's BBall is not the only sport that pays for a 5-year complete ride if the school lets you. My niece played Volleyball in the SEC. When she was being recruited she was told that the school would pay for up to 5 years of study, even if she completed her eligibility in her first 4 years. She signed a 4-year scholarship contract and required the inclusion of language regarding 5 paid years at the university. The university honored their commitment and she graduated with a double major in 5 years, all paid by the university, even though her athletic eligibility was used up in her first 4 years.

Why go there if you can play, simple answer.

She is demanding. Her standards and expectations don't waiver and certainly aren't applied on a player by player basis.

I can't believe anyone who watches her on the sideline could think otherwise. Maybe some players fool themselves about what they're really comfortable with before they get to ND only to realize after a year or two that it's not for them. Dani clearly never was comfortable or, mayber even more importantly, Muffet was never comfortable with Dani. It seems like neither Erin Boley nor Ali Patberg were either (although the injury bug that derailed Patberg may impact that analysis).

It doesn't mattter if you are expected to be a starter in your junior year: if you never can get comfortable with the coach's expectations and demands that you continue to reach deeper, you won't succeed at ND.