Tag: Natalie Achonwa

Former Notre Dame players on 2022 WNBA rosters

Which player(s) will you cheer for this season?

The 2022 WNBA season has tipped off, and there is plenty of Notre Dame representation. Not that this should come as any surprise given that they all played under Muffet McGraw. Hopefully one day, Niele Ivey will have just as many of her own former players competing at the pinnacle of professional women’s basketball. For now, McGraw’s legacy is far more apparent.

With nine former Irish players in the WNBA and a few of them even teammates, there’s a very good chance you’ll find one of them on a given night if you decide to flip on a random game this season. Maybe you happen to be a fan of a particular team that has Irish blood on it. In that case, congratulations for hitting the jackpot!

Don’t be so quick to write these athletes off just because it’s women’s basketball. It’s just as thrilling to watch them as it is male athletes, and you’re only hurting yourself if you refuse to watch solely based on gender. Now, with that out of the way, here are the former Irish players to look for:

Natalie Achonwa Named Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award Winner

Indiana Fever forward and former Notre Dame captain Natalie Achonwa has won this year’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

Indiana Fever forward and former Notre Dame captain Natalie Achonwa has won this year’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The award, of which Achonwa was announced as the winner Friday, goes to a player who has shown great community leadership. Achonwa continued to show leadership in the statement she released after the announcement:

“It is important for me to optimize the benefits and privileges I receive from being a professional athlete. A big piece of that is using the platform I’m awarded to connect with people, promote a level playing field, and inspire others to make positive change.

Through the ups and downs of my own personal journey, I have found that it is the little things that make the biggest difference. If we all focus on challenging the status quo of our own circles, and build from there, we can tackle the world and keep moving forward.”

On the Fever’s Twitter account, Irish coaches past and present were only too pleased to have the opportunity to congratulate their friend:

Achonowa spoke at Indianapolis Public Schools during March to talk about mental health and ending the stigma. In 2019, she won the WNBA Community Assist Award for raising awareness of similar issues. For her latest award, the WNBA will make a $10,000 donation in her name to the Madame Walker Legacy Center.