Newsstand: Where Notre Dame women’s basketball ranks in the preseason coaches poll

On Thursday, USA TODAY Sports published the first women’s basketball coaches poll for the 2024-25 season. Notre Dame checked in as the No. 5 team in the nation. The Fighting Irish are the highest-ranked ACC team.

Notre Dame’s debut at No. 5 in the coaches poll us the highest in the Niele Ivey era. This year, the Irish are led by the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year and first team All-America selection, sophomore Hannah Hidalgo. Graduate Olivia Miles also returns to the lineup after missing last season with a torn ACL. Miles was a second team All-American in 2022-23.

Last year the Irish opened the season at No. 10 in the coaches poll. Here is the complete breakdown of this year’s rankings:

1. South Carolina
2. UConn
3. Southern Cal
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. UCLA
7. LSU
8. NC State
9. Iowa State
10. Oklahoma
11. Duke
12. Baylor
13. Kansas State
14. Ohio State
15. West Virginia
16. North Carolina
17. Louisville
18. Maryland
19. Florida State
20. Creighton
21. Ole Miss
22. Kentucky
23. Nebraska
24. Indiana
25. Alabama

Notre Dame Posts of the Day

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top 5 to start the season, let’s go to work #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/f9hG6Smg06

— Notre Dame Women’s Basketball (@ndwbb) October 24, 2024

On3 national college football analyst J.D. Pickell offered a bold take on the Fighting Irish football team on Thursday.

If Notre Dame wins out and makes the playoff, the NIU loss is the reason whyhttps://t.co/QVoOAL9ogs pic.twitter.com/mXz4vNIskU

— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) October 24, 2024

Irish graduate student wide receiver Kris Mitchell is becoming more involved in the offense.

Kris Mitchell has six targets in his last two games after only amassing four in the previous three.

If he’s going to give Notre Dame these kinds of moves and yards after the catch, the Irish should sling it out to him and let him go more often. Part of an improving passing game. pic.twitter.com/qB9c40SaRL

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) October 24, 2024

Irish running back Jeremiyah Love continues to thrive in his sophomore season.

Jeremiyah Love is in the rare class of college football running backs who can take a short check-down over the middle and get the edge on three defenders who have an angle on him. None of them stand a chance at limiting his gain.

The Notre Dame sophomore is a pure speedster. pic.twitter.com/YqvkMcN8ge

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) October 24, 2024

Notre Dame Quote of the Day

“I think as you go back to the history, and you go back to why this rivalry was even created, it’s an honor to be a part of it. You’re humbled; you’re grateful. And I think everybody has that mindset and approach to this opportunity we have ahead of us.

“If you have a grateful mindset, a grateful approach, and you prepare in a way that you respect what this opportunity presents. So I think that’s most important, man, is that our mindset’s in the right place, and we understand the tradition, the history of this rivalry and we prepare in a way that gives us a chance to have success.”

— Irish head football coach Marcus Freeman on being a part of the Notre Dame vs. Navy rivalry.

Notre Dame Headlines of the Day

How to watch Notre Dame football vs. Navy in Week 9

Everything Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday before the Navy game

WATCH: The ND recruiting update with Singer and Kelly (Oct. 24)

Live updates: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman pre-Navy press conference

How special teams breakthroughs can energize ND entering Navy game

Three keys to the game: Notre Dame football vs. Navy

Hey Horka! Which ND football defensive player will play well vs. Navy?

Newsstand: Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser named finalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

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