Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Fighting Irish players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Slovenian athlete Jessica Shepard, a 6'4'' forward aged 29, is a graduate of Notre Dame from the year 2019 where she played an instrumental role in helping her team become the ACC Regular Season Co-Champion. Currently, she is showcasing her skills in the WNBA, playing for the Dallas Wings. In a recent game, Shepard led her team to a notable victory over the Las Vegas Aces with a score of 95-87, earning the title of MVP for her outstanding performance. She achieved a rare triple-double by scoring 22 points, securing 20 rebounds, and providing 10 assists during the 38 minutes she spent on the court. Despite the Dallas Wings having a somewhat modest 6-3 record this season, Shepard's leadership has been pivotal in securing three consecutive wins for her team. While it is still early in the season and uncertainties loom, Shepard's exceptional gameplay against the Las Vegas Aces has garnered her the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further cementing her reputation as a true champion in the sport. Noteworthy are Shepard's impressive statistics this season, averaging 12.6 points per game, 11.0 rebounds per game (the second-best in the league), and 5.9 assists per game across the nine games she has played thus far. Additionally, it is interesting to highlight that Shepard holds dual citizenship, being both American and Slovenian, which allows her to compete in Slovenia as a domestic player.
#2. Experienced champion Skylar Diggins-Smith, a 5'9'' point guard and 35-year-old Fighting Irish alumni from the class of 2013, who received the All-Big East Player of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in the WNBA. In a recent game, she was unable to lead the Chicago Sky (3-6) to victory. Despite her impressive performance, Diggins-Smith, the finalist in scoring with 23 points and 9 assists in 36 minutes, could not prevent the Chicago Sky (#6) from losing 104-111 on the road to the Toronto Tempo. This defeat marked the fifth consecutive loss for the Chicago Sky this season. Diggins-Smith showcased her skills against Toronto Tempo by scoring 23 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and distributing 9 assists. However, her individual brilliance was not enough to secure the win for her team. Throughout this season, Diggins-Smith has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the eight games she has played so far.
#3. Olivia Miles, a 5'10'' guard who is 23 years old and graduated from TCU in 2026, previously played for Notre Dame from 2020 to 2025. In 2025, she received the prestigious All-ACC Student-Athlete of the Year award. Currently, she is playing professionally in the WNBA and recently made a significant impact in a game where the Minnesota Lynx triumphed over the Phoenix Mercury with a commanding score of 111-77. This victory marked the team's fifth consecutive win. During the game, Olivia Miles showcased her talent by contributing 19 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals in just 28 minutes of play. This exceptional performance is particularly impressive considering that this is only her debut season in professional basketball. Despite the Minnesota Lynx having a somewhat modest 7-2 record this season, Miles' stellar play has undoubtedly been a driving force behind their success. Her remarkable skills and contributions were pivotal in securing the victory for her team, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion. Individually, Olivia Miles has been having a standout season, boasting impressive averages of 15.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, and 1.7 steals per game across nine games. Her talent and dedication on the court have undoubtedly solidified her status as a rising star in the world of professional basketball.
#4. Sonia Citron, a 6'1'' guard and 22-year-old Fighting Irish alumna from 2025, who was a finalist for the prestigious Wade Trophy (Player of the Year) award that year, currently showcases her talents in the WNBA. Recently, she couldn't lead the Washington Mystics (4-4) to a victory in their latest game against the Los Angeles Sparks, where they fell short by a close margin of 87-92. Even though Citron displayed an impressive performance by scoring 21 points and contributing 8 assists in 37 minutes of play, her efforts were not enough to secure a win for the Washington Mystics, who hold the #4 position in the league standings. It's worth noting that this is only Citron's first season in professional basketball, making her performance even more remarkable. Throughout the season, Citron has maintained high individual statistics, averaging 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across six games. Her consistent contributions on the court have undoubtedly made her a standout player to watch in the league.
#5. Kayla McBride, a 5'11" point guard, is a 33-year-old professional basketball player who graduated from Notre Dame in 2014. Known for her contribution to helping Notre Dame win the ACC Regular Season Championship that year, she now plays in the WNBA. McBride is a teammate of Olivia Miles and recently showcased a stellar performance in a game against the Atlanta Dream, which resulted in a 96-81 victory for her team. In the matchup against the Atlanta Dream, McBride displayed her skills by scoring 12 points and making 3 steals in 34 minutes of play. This game was significant as it featured two top-ranked teams in the Western group, with McBride's team, the Minnesota Lynx, improving their record to 7-2 with a fifth consecutive victory. McBride's all-around performance included not only scoring points but also contributing with 2 rebounds and 1 assist against Atlanta. Her consistent play throughout the season is reflected in her impressive statistics of 13.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game over nine games. McBride's leadership and exceptional performance on the court have been instrumental in guiding her team towards success as the champion.
#6. Arike Ogunbowale, a 5'8'' point guard and 29-year-old alumna of the Fighting Irish from 2019, played a crucial role in helping her team become ACC Regular Season Co-Champion that year. She now showcases her skills in the WNBA, where she is a teammate of the aforementioned finalist, Jessica Shepard. In a recent game in the Women's National Basketball Association, Ogunbowale's team secured a resounding victory over the Seattle Storm, dominating the game with a final score of 79-56. During this game, Ogunbowale displayed her talent by contributing 9 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. Her performance against Seattle was instrumental in her team's success, ultimately leading them to victory and earning her the title of champion. Throughout the current season, Ogunbowale has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game over nine appearances. Her consistent performance on the court reflects her status as a champion in the making.
#7. Canadian Cassandre Prosper, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from Notre Dame in 2026 and received the All-ACC Most Improved Player of the Year award, currently plays professionally in the WNBA. She is teammates with the previously mentioned Sonia Citron. In a recent game in the Women's National Basketball Association, Prosper played a key role in her team's 90-72 victory against the Chicago Sky. During the game, she showcased her skills by scoring 7 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, demonstrating her value as a finalist. Prosper's performance was crucial in securing the win and propelling her team to the next round. Her contributions as a champion were essential to her team's success. So far this year, Prosper has been averaging 4.6 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game over the course of seven games.
#8. Liatu King, a 6'0'' forward and 24-year-old Fighting Irish alumna from the class of 2025, played a pivotal role in helping her team secure the ACC Regular Season Co-Champion title in that year. She has since transitioned to playing professionally in the WNBA, where she is a teammate of the aforementioned Olivia Miles. In a recent game for the Minnesota Lynx, King played a significant part in their victory over the Chicago Sky, with a commanding score of 79-58. Despite only scoring 2 points in 10 minutes of play, she also managed to grab 3 rebounds against the Chicago Sky, contributing to her team's success. Her performance was instrumental in leading her team to victory and ultimately earning her the prestigious title of champion. This season, King has been averaging 3.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game across four games.
#9. Jackie Young, a 6'0'' point guard who graduated from Notre Dame in 2019 and received the All-ACC All-Tournament MVP award that year, currently plays professionally in the WNBA. In a recent game, she was a standout performer for the Las Vegas Aces as they secured a 91-81 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Young showcased her skills by scoring 23 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and delivering 9 assists in 37 minutes of play. Her exceptional performance against Golden State was crucial in leading the Las Vegas Aces to triumph as the champion. Young's impressive statistics this season include averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game over nine games. This victory further solidifies her reputation as a top-tier player in the league, demonstrating her ability to excel on the court and make significant contributions to her team's success.
#10. Marina Mabrey, a 5'11'' point guard and 29-year-old alumna of the Fighting Irish from 2019, has made a name for herself playing professionally in the WNBA. She was part of the team that achieved ACC Regular Season Co-Champion status that year. In a recent WNBA game, she faced off against the previously mentioned Skylar Diggins-Smith. Unfortunately, Mabrey was unable to lead the Toronto Tempo to victory in their latest game, where they were defeated 104-111 by the Toronto T. Despite her strong performance, scoring 24 points and contributing 4 rebounds and 7 assists in just 28 minutes, her team fell short in the closely contested matchup. In a standout performance against the Chicago Sky, Marina showcased her skills with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, helping her team secure the win. Her exceptional contributions on the court highlighted why she is a champion. Throughout the season, Mabrey has been having a stellar individual year, boasting impressive statistics. She is averaging 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over the course of nine games.
Other former University of Notre Dame players, who play in pro basketball:
Kathryn Westbeld (6'3''-F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Miskolc in Hungarian A Division
Liza Karlen (6'2''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Szekszard in Hungarian A Division
Maya Dodson (6'3''-F-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Leganes in Spanish LF Endesa
Lauren Ebo (6'4''-C-2000, played in 2022-23) plays for Joventut in Spanish LF Endesa
Lindsay Allen (5'8''-PG-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Dallas Wings in the WNBA
Maddy Westbeld (6'3''-F-2002, played in 2020-25) plays for Chicago Sky in the WNBA
Destinee Walker (5'10''-G-1997, played in 2019-21) played for Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters in British WSLB few monts ago
Dara Mabrey (5'7''-G-1999, played in 2018-23) plays for Norwood Flames in Australian NBL One
Brianna Turner (6'3''-F-1996, played in 2014-17) plays for Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA
Iyana Moore (5'8''-G, played in 2025-26) plays for Savannah Steel in the UpShot
Jewell Loyd (5'11''-PG-1993, played in 2011-15) plays for Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Notre Dame basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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