Jewell Loyd Drafted #1 Overall in WNBA Draft

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Jewell Loyd was just drafted by the WNBA's Seattle Storm as the #1 pick in the 2015 Draft.

LINK:  JEWELL LOYD STORY

Trying to Justify Why Leave Early for WNBA?

I'm guessing Jewell Loyd and her advisers are banking on this happening tomorrow (Thursday) night at the 2015 WNBA Draft:

• She's drafted #1 overall by the Seattle Storm
• A phone call soon follows from a China area code
• And, a second phone call from a Russia area code

So goes the life a female professional basketball player -- unless you're a Notre Dame grad named Skylar...

The WNBA team that drafts Jewell will pay her a max of $49,500 -- the rookie salary cap -- for its four-month season.  But, professional teams in Europe and Asia are paying much more -- for their four month seasons;

• Britney Griner, #1 overall pick in 2013 made $49,440 this past year in the WNBA and $610,000 playing in China...
• Diana Taurasi, #1 overall pick in 2004 made $1.5 million this past year playing in Russia -- she's decided not to come back this season to play in the WNBA
• Candace Parker, #1 overall pick in 2008 made "close to $1 million" this past year -- playing for the same team in Russia as Taurasi

I'm guessing Jewell Loyd will make $400,000 to $500,000 or so -- assuming she plays overseas -- her first year away from Notre Dame...  Now, would she have made similar annual income waiting to go in next year's draft?

It's obvious an agent got to Jewell and her family and showed them that going #1 overall this year -- versus going #2 overall next year, behind Breanna Stewart -- would severely impact the bargaining power of Jewell's first professional contract in Europe or Asia.

It's not about the WNBA.

Here's hoping Jewell goes #1 to Seattle tomorrow night -- and the Chinese and Russians take notice.  She's rolled the dice...

LINK:  WNBA STARS LEAVING AMERICA

Brian Kelly With Media After Practice Today

Had the great pleasure of attending Notre Dame's football practice today -- along with the media session after.

I did ask a question of Coach Kelly about his "fu mancho" mustache he's been showing off the last week or so...

If you were concerned -- I am hoping you were not -- he let us know it will not be his sideline look for the 2015 season.

Must See: Notre Dame Women's Hoops Video

Enjoy!

Muffet Doesn't Mince Words About Jewell Loyd

WOW -- here are Muffet's comments concerning Jewell Loyd's decision to leave school early.

Jewell did not attend the team's season ending banquet...

LINK:  MUFFET ON LOYD'S DEPARTURE

Must See TV Tonight at 6:30 PM ET on NBCSN

The documentary  "ONWARD NOTRE DAME" will air this evening at 6:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network.

Local TV Coverage of ND Hoops Celebration

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish put the "ribbon" on a season (last night) that will be talked about forever in the annals of Notre Dame basketball.

High Praise for Incoming Notre Dame Hoopster

Rex Plueger -- a 6'-6" guard from Mater Dei HS in California -- was listed as one of the top incoming college basketball players on the radar screen of NBA teams -- see link below.

You'll see him at around the 45 second mark of this DUNK video above --- wearing uniform #1!

LINK:  PFLUEGER

I Never Get Tired of Seeing This at Notre Dame

Beating a team from that school in Ann Arbor...

Film Coverage: Notre Dame Football Scrimmage

You'll want to take a look at this!

Notre Dame Baseball Completes Sweep of FSU

WOW -- Mik Aoki's Fighting Irish just sent the #7 team in the country back to Tallahassee losing THREE STRAIGHT at Notre Dame!

Coach Kelly Talks to Media After Scrimmage

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly -- met with the media today after their Saturday scrimmage.

Notre Dame Baseball Beats #7 Florida State

It's the first win -- over a team ranked this high in the national polls -- in the last seven years for Notre Dame baseball!

Notre Dame Football Practice Report -- Friday

Here's what it looked like inside Loftus...

NBC's "Onward Notre Dame" -- Sneak Peak

This documentary on Notre Dame Football will be broadcast for the first time on April 14th at 6:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network.

Way Too Early Top 25 Hoops Poll for 2015-16

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are ranked 8th in this "way too early" Top 25 Men's College Basketball rankings for the 2015-16 season...

Take a look:

LINK:  FIRST HOOPS POLL

Brian Kelly With Media After Football Practice

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today -- after football practice -- to talk about the progress of the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame Football Spring Practice Coverage

Here's the latest practice report from the Fighting Irish Digital Media team...

We Gave it a GREAT RUN -- Hats Off to UCONN

I'm somewhere over northern Florida at about 35,000 feet -- flying back to Notre Dame -- after watching our Fighting Irish play UCONN for the National Championship last night...

All I will say is this -- our girls gave it everything they had and more.  Everytime we got close -- UCONN seemed to knock down a three-pointer...

We're going to get them -- mark my words!

Muffet and Her Fighting Irish Talk UCONN Today

The Notre Dame women's basketball team met with the assembled media today at the FINAL FOUR in Tampa.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PRESS CONFERENCE