Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 7, 2026 55 BY ERIC HANSEN A lmost a year after tearing two ligaments and the meniscus in her right knee, Notre Dame fresh- man guard Bella Ragone was fully medically cleared in early October to put the pain behind her. That meant jumping headfirst into — not easing into — the grow- ing pains phase, with the timing of the No. 13-ranked Irish women's basketball team's Nov. 1 season opener with Villanova in Rome, Italy, providing a short runway. "You can't just throw someone back onto the court and say, 'Hey, just go out there and play,'" Ragone offered before a recent practice. "Especially when you haven't done that in 11 and a half months. But I'm getting my feet under me. I'm figuring things out." Including what tough love feels like. Hannah Hidalgo's tough love. The three-time All-American and senior point guard is both in Ragone's corner and her ear. Re- lentlessly on both counts. "She's awesome," Ragone said of Notre Dame's only returning player from the core of last year's 25-11 Elite Eight team, " but she also pushes you to be your best self. "And I think that's something that I'm getting used to. I didn't really have someone to push me in high school. But here, there are hard things, and you have to learn that sometimes your teammate is going to say some things, and you've got to get over it and move on, because she's ulti- mately trying to help you. "And I think that's the best thing about playing with an experienced and a great player like Hannah — that no matter what day I walk in, she's going to push me to be my best self." THE LONG ROAD BACK The stat line for Ragone's best self the last time she completed a full season was 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as a junior at Mill Creek High in Hoschton, Ga. Her senior season was truncated after one game, the season opener. Ragone had surgery on her ACL, MCL and meniscus 10 days later on Nov. 13, 2025. The 6-foot-2 daughter of Los An- geles Rams quarterbacks coach/associ- ate offensive coordinator Dave Ragone still managed a No. 24 national recruit- ing rating, per the Rivals Industry Rank- ing, in the 2026 class. "Standing there on the sidelines and not being able to be out there is super hard," Ragone said. "Knowing that you feel good, but you can't go out because you're not cleared medi- cally, is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome. But I think it makes you a different player. It gives you perspective. "You know, every time you step on that court now, you're going to be super grateful that you can do it. I think that's the best part." Ragone's first game for the out- side world to see since that sur- gery came Oct. 26, when the Irish hosted NCAA Division II school Truman State in an exhibition game at Purcell Pavilion. She logged 12 minutes in the 125-59 blowout victory, contributing 4 points and 1 rebound. "I'm pretty competitive, but I also think just like the intangibles," Ragone said in describing the game Irish fans are likely to see from her as she gains experience. "I love to talk, and I'm pretty encouraging. I try to fill my role as best as I can. "I'm a pretty decent shooter, and that's one of my best skill sets. If I'm open, I'm going to knock that down and try to rebound as best as I can, because I am a taller guard." Then it was off to Italy for the real opener less than a week later. "I wish I could speak Italian," she said. "That would be so cool." Ragone had been to Italy be- fore, though. She and fellow Irish freshman Amari Byles played some games in Milan, Italy, in the sum- mer of 2025 as part of a travel program under the Adidas circuit umbrella. "It was a cool experience," Ragone said. "I still have family overseas, so just to be able to do that was super cool. Be- ing back in Italy, knowing that I have heritage there, knowing that my grand- parents are from there, it's just special." So is being healthy and joining a ros- ter with seven scholarship newcomers — eight players new to the court if you count sophomore forward Leah Macy, who missed all of last season with an ACL tear of her own. Five of the seven newbies are freshmen. Healthy, Hungry And Learning The Meaning Of Tough Love WOMEN'S B A S K E T B A L L Freshman guard Bella Ragone scored 4 points in Notre Dame's 125-59 exhibition win over Truman State Oct. 26, returning to game action nearly a year after suffering a serious right knee injury. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS