Newsstand: Transfer portal guard from Duke hears from Notre Dame women’s basketball

Notre Dame women’s basketball has picked up a pair of transfer portal signee forwards, but the Fighting Irish could stand to get some help in the backcourt, too. Head coach Niele Ivey and Co. is trying for it.

According to Talia Goodman of On3, the Irish have reached out to former Duke guard Oluchi Okananwa. Of course, they’re not the only ones to have done so. Here’s the entire list…

UConn
Louisville
UCLA
South Carolina
Tennessee

Maryland
Notre Dame
NC State
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
North Carolina

Okananwa is a 5-10 rising junior from Boston. She appeared in 71 games for the Blue Devils in her first two collegiate seasons without making any starts. Her presence off the bench was impressive in Durham, though, averaging 9.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a freshman and 10.1 points and 5.3 assists per game as a sophomore.

Okananwa had a solid showing in the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 9.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during Duke’s run to the Elite Eight. She had 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 47-38 bloodbath victory over rival North Carolina in the Sweet 16.

In two games against Notre Dame this past season, Okananwa scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a 64-49 loss and scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a 61-56 victory.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Is it time for the Fighting Irish to Start The Carr?

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿?

Notre Dame QB CJ Carr shined in the Blue-Gold Game, but the competition is far from over

Purchase your copy of this magazine here: https://t.co/mu91L8n6fY pic.twitter.com/jkkUM1GzwY

— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) April 16, 2025

Jeremiyah Love will remain primarily a running back, it seems.

Marcus Freeman on Jeremiyah Love cross-training at WR this spring via @jdpickell:

“In those wild dreams that he has, he might think that he’s a receiver. But he does a really good job in the backfield.”

Love could catch more passes in 2025, but he’s Notre Dame’s RB1 by nature. pic.twitter.com/gLaPTx1DlF

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) April 16, 2025

Academics will always be of the utmost priority at Notre Dame.

Competing at the highest level on and off the field

5⃣ 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society members

This marks the second-straight year Jack Kiser has been selected to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/pHPWn2M15L

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 16, 2025

Fighting Irish quote of the day

“Notre Dame has made a significant impact on my decision. Obviously, a great impact. It wasn’t negative. I would say they’re definitely making their mark when it comes to my commitment.”

— Four-star running back De-Zephen Walker on his recruitment

Blue & Gold headlines of the day

• Four-star wide receiver from the West visiting Notre Dame for the first time Thursday
• Irish sophomore safety Kennedy Urlacher to enter NCAA transfer portal
• Irish long snapper Rino Monteforte enters NCAA transfer portal

• Notre Dame offers, quickly becomes contender for 2026 DL David Schwerzel
• ‘Enhance the way we play’: How Chris Ash put his stamp on Irish defense
• How DL target Richie Flanigan’s Notre Dame visit highlights his recruitment beyond family legacy

• What Kennedy Urlacher entering the transfer portal means for Fighting Irish football
• Why Notre Dame can ‘Moneyball’ defensive tackle situation in 2025
• Lucky Charms: Notre Dame recruiting notes from the road in Texas

The post Newsstand: Transfer portal guard from Duke hears from Notre Dame women’s basketball appeared first on On3.