Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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82 PRESEASON 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE L ogic and longevity limits suggest that two-time Irish All-American Skylar Diggins, playing in her 13th WNBA sea- son, should be slowing down some and riding off into the sunset after a terrific basketball career, right? No chance. Instead, the star point guard for the Seattle Storm is still turn- ing heads and making league history. Playing in her seventh WNBA All- Star Game July 19 in Indianapolis, the 34-year-old Diggins posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and an All-Star record 15 assists — all in only 21 minutes — to be- come the first WNBA player to ever re- cord an All-Star triple-double since the game made its debut in 1999. "I don't take it for granted," said Dig- gins, who helped her Team Collier to a 151-131 victory over Team Clark. "I know I'm one of the older ones in this group. But I told them when we got together, 'Don't take this moment for granted. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'" As an encore, nine days later, Diggins tallied 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 as- sists in only 22 minutes for the first reg- ular-season triple-double of her career — and only the second in Storm fran- chise history — in an 101-85 regular- season blowout win over Connecticut. After stints with Tulsa, Dallas and Phoenix, Diggins — the third overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft — is play- ing her second season in Seattle. "Right now, I'm just in a good posi- tion," she said. "I'm happy to be with the Seattle Storm. I found a new home, and I feel really supported. It's just great to be out here." With four former players, Notre Dame was well-represented in the All- Star game. Kayla McBride, 33, played in her fourth All-Star game after being a late addition to Team Collier's roster. The talented shooting guard for the Minnesota Lynx scored 15 points with 3 rebounds in 19 minutes for the winning team. Playing her rookie season with the Washington Mystics, shooting guard Sonia Citron, 21, played 21 minutes for Team Clark and tallied 11 points, 2 re- bounds and 2 assists. And, playing in her fourth consecu- tive All-Star game, point guard Jackie Young, 27, came off the bench and played only one minute with no stats for Team Clark. NFL NOTES • The initial four-year, $16.25 million rookie contract for Baltimore Ravens safety and former Irish All-American Kyle Hamilton doesn't expire until the end of the 2026 season. But with the trajectory of his career path, expect a contract extension and a huge pay boost above his current $4.06 million annual salary to be coming sooner rather than later for the two-time NFL All-Pro. According to a story by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, Hamilton — a 2022 first- round draft pick — will likely become the highest paid safety in the NFL when he negotiates and signs his next deal. Currently, Antoine Winfield Jr., of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kerby Joseph, of the Detroit Lions, sit atop the earnings list among NFL safeties at $21 million per year, following their recent extensions. Kay expects Hamilton, 24, to com- mand and bring more than that, and increase his annual pay by more than five times his current rate. Last season, Hamilton recorded 107 tackles, 9 passes defended, 2 forced fum- bles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception. • Former Irish All-America safety Xavier Watts isn't taking long to make an impact, and a "name" for himself, during his first training camp with the Atlanta Falcons. Considered one of the steals of the 2025 draft, this NFL rookie and third-round pick is already earning first-team reps during camp and draw- ing high praise from his peers. All-Pro teammate Jessie Bates III — also a safety — called Watts "a hell of a football player." While a handful of other teammates already gave Watts "The X Factor" nickname to celebrate a terrific first impression. ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Zach Auguste (2012-16), C, SeaHorses Mikawa, Japanese B-1 League In his second season playing in Mikawa, Japan, the Cambridge, Mass., native averaged 12.0 points (second on the team), 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 26.4 minutes in 62 regular-season games as the team's starting center. Auguste, who turned 32 on July 8, played on four teams in four different countries before finding a new home in Mikawa. Joe Boyle, (2018-20), RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, MLB After recording only 63 2/3 innings pitched in 16 MLB appearances total during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the O'Fallon, Mo., native found a regular place in the Rays' bullpen last month. From July 6-23, Boyle pitched 14 innings in four appearances and allowed only 6 hits and 3 earned runs for a 1.93 ERA in those games. Arike Ogunbowale (2015-19), PG, Dallas Wings, WNBA Following a two-game down stretch when the former Irish All-American scored only 11 points on 3-of- 22 shooting — including a 0-of-10 night — the Milwaukee native pulled out of her slump and averaged 18.5 points during her next four games between July 22 and July 28. Ogunbowale shot 50 percent (26 of 52) in those four games, including 10 of 24 from three-point range. Skylar Diggins Is Still Making WNBA History I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Diggins scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 15 assists — all in only 21 min- utes — to become the first WNBA player to ever record an All-Star triple-double since the game made its debut in 1999. PHOTO COURTESY WNBA COMMUNICATIONS