Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SUMMER 2026 41 BY TODD D. BURLAGE F rom the hardwood floors at Capital Courts Academy in Canada, to the hardwood floors at the Capital City of the United States, former Irish guard Cassandre Prosper opened the next chapter of her basketball life on April 22, when she was selected in the second round (19th overall) by the Washington Mystics in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The first-ever player from Ottawa to be drafted to the WNBA, and the 24th Irish player selected all time, Prosper will join former Notre Dame teammate Sonia Citron in Washington as one of 13 former Notre Dame players to start the 2026 WNBA season on an active roster. "My goal has always been to get to 'The W,'" Prosper said in a story for CTV-News. "And now I've got to figure out my other goals, now that I'm here." Prosper opened her rookie WNBA season May 8. Voted the 2025-26 ACC Most Im- proved Player after playing parts of four seasons at Notre Dame, Prosper aver- aged a career-high 13.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last year. B e c a u s e o f a n i n j u r y- shortened sophomore year with the Irish in 2023-24, Prosper had a season of col- lege eligibility remaining. But she chose to go pro instead of returning to Notre Dame. Prosper's brother, Oliv- ier-Maxence "O-Max," was d ra f te d by t h e Me m p h i s Grizzlies of the NBA in 2023, making the Prosper siblings t h e o n ly C a n a d i a n - b o r n brother-sister duo to ever be drafted into the WNBA and NBA. " I fe e l l i ke b a s ke t b a l l bonds us a lot and especially now," Cassandre shared of her older brother. "We're two pro athletes now, so we have a lot to relate about." On a side note, former Irish All-America guard Ol- ivia Miles — who transferred to TCU last April for her fi- nal college season — was se- lected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 2 overall pick in April's WNBA Draft. Miles was a two-time All- American while at Notre Dame (2023 and 2025). The former three-time first-team All-ACC honoree then be- came the 2025-26 Big 12 Player of the Year and an All-American at TCU this season after averaging 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. ✦ IRISH IN THE WNBA Thirteen former Notre Dame players opened the 2026 season on WNBA rosters • Lindsay Allen (Dallas Wings), G, 10th Season • Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics), G, 2nd Season • Skylar Diggins (Chicago Sky), G, 14th Season • Jewell Loyd (Las Vegas Aces), G, 12th Season • Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo), G, 8th Season • Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), G, 13th Season • Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings), G, 8th Season • Cassandre Prosper (Washington Mystics), G, 1st Season • Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings), F, 6th Season • Brianna Turner (Las Vegas Aces), C, 8th Season • Kathryn Westbeld* (Phoenix Mercury), F, 2nd Season • Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), G, 8th Season * Out for season due to ACL injury FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Ian Cole (2007-10), D, Utah Mammoth, NHL A veteran defenseman not known for his scoring, the 37-year-old, 19-year NHL veteran scored a goal in Game 4 of the first round of the NHL playoffs, unfortunately in a 5-4 overtime loss to Las Vegas April 27. Known more for stymying stick work and physicality in his own zone, Cole tallied 3 goals and 20 assists during the regular season, and was tied for 64th in the league with a plus-16 plus/minus ratio. Marcus Hammond, (2022-23), G, Poitiers Basket 86, French Pro B League Playing his second season in France, Hammond, 25, has settled in well as the start- ing point guard for the Poitiers. Through games as of April 24, the 2023 undrafted free agent was averaging 15.4 points a game for the season. Playing his best ball recently, the Queens, N.Y., native averaged 20.4 points in eight games between March 20 and April 24, helping his team to a 7-1 record during that stretch. Alizé Mack (2015-18), TE, Columbus Aviators, United Football League Playing his first year in Columbus after two seasons with the San Antonio Brahmas, the Las Vegas native had recorded 11 receptions for 140 yards with 1 touchdown through five games with his new team. Mack, 29, was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and then bounced around multiple practice squads, and has still yet to crack an active NFL roster. Irish Guard Cassandre Prosper Fulfills Her WNBA Dream I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Prosper, who averaged a career-high 13.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season and was voted the ACC Most Improved Player this past season, was drafted 19th overall by the Washington Mystics. PHOTO COURTESY WASHINGTON MYSTICS