Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 MAY 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE I n what might be best described as a star-studded Fighting Irish home- coming, and a can't-miss viewing op- portunity for the Notre Dame women's basketball faithful, former All-Amer- icans Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young will return to Purcell Pavilion May 2 for a WNBA exhibition game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings. Considered three of the best players in the league, Ogunbowale will represent Dallas, while Loyd and Young are team- mates in Las Vegas. "It always feels special being back at Notre Dame," Young said when the game was announced in February. "But this time, being able to play again in front of the people that supported me, and helped to get me where I am today, is incredible." A two-time WNBA champion with the Aces, Young — the first overall pick in the 2019 draft — is a three-time All- Star selection after averaging 13.5 points per game during her seven-year profes- sional career. After spending 10 seasons playing in Seattle, Loyd — the first overall pick in the 2015 draft — was traded in January to Las Vegas where she was reunited with Young. "Notre Dame has always been amaz- ing. They love women's sports, and they love women's basketball," said Loyd, a two-time WNBA champion and a six- time WNBA All-Star who has averaged 16.9 points per game for her career. "So, to bring a different level of excellence to the school, and to give back, is always cool." A four-time WNBA All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers in the league, Ogunbowale returns to Notre Dame as the program's all-time leading scorer and a legend after leading Notre Dame to the 2018 NCAA national championship. "Notre Dame holds a special place in my heart. To be able to play there again is an incredible opportunity," said Ogun- bowale, the fifth-overall pick in the 2019 draft, who's averaged 20.6 points a game for her career. "We created so many un- forgettable memories inside Purcell Pa- vilion, and I can't wait to compete along- side my Dallas Wings teammates in front of so many familiar faces, and fans that love and support women's basketball." Tickets for the game are on sale now, and can purchased through the Notre Dame ticket office at FightingIrish.com/ buytickets. MLB UPDATE Through April 14 • Cavan Biggio (Played Notre Dame from 2014‑16), IF/OF, Kansas City Royals: Joined the Royals on a minor league contract after playing in 78 games with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves in 2024 … Played in 12 of Kansas City's first 17 games in 2025 … Hitting .192 (5 for 26) with 0 home runs and 2 RBI. • Matt Vierling (2015‑18), IF/OF, Detroit Tigers: Signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Tigers in January to stay with the franchise after hitting .257 with career highs in home runs (16) and RBI (57) … Began this season on the injured list while rehabbing a rotator cuff ailment. Notre Dame Set To Host A WNBA 'Homecoming' I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Arike Ogunbowale (above), a four-time WNBA All-Star and Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer, will be in South Bend May 7 for an exhibition game against fellow Irish alumnae Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS WINGS FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS John Mooney (Played Notre Dame from 2016‑20), PF, Chiba Jets, Japan B.League The Baltimore native continues to carve a nice basketball career overseas. Through 32 games this season as of April 7, Mooney was averaging 13.0 points and a team-best 10.6 rebounds per game. During his four seasons with the Jets, Mooney has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds each year. Yared Nuguse (2017‑22), Professional Track, ON Athletics Club The former Irish All-American middle-distance great got his 2025 professional out- door season off to a solid start with a second-place finish in the 1,500-meter race at the Grand Slam Track Kingston competition in Jamaica April 5. The Louisville, Ky., native posted a 3:35.36, less than a half second off the winning time of 3:35.18 set by Kenyan runner Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Bryan Rust, (2010‑14), RW, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL Playing some of the best hockey of his season, the Pontiac, Mich., native scored 2 goals and tallied 2 assists in a three-game stretch for the Panthers from April 3-6. For the season through games as of April 14, the talented right winger ranked third on the Penguins in goals (29) and points (63).