South Bend Saint Joseph High School graduate Kelly Ratigan has transferred to Notre Dame after spending three years with the Loyola Maryland women’s basketball program.
Ratigan was an All-State performer her senior season at St. Joe, when she averaged 24 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game while being named 2022 Northern Indiana Conference MVP.
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Ratigan is the daughter of Brian Ratigan, a former Notre Dame football linebacker and current orthopedic doctor for Notre Dame athletics. Her brother, Conor, also played football for the Irish.
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The 5-7 guard started 46 games for Loyola, but had season-ending surgery early in her junior year. She will have two years of eligibility with the Irish.
In her last full season with the Greyhounds, Ratigan averaged 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
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Ratigan is the fifth transfer-portal addition for coach Niele Ivey’s Irish, joining former Vanderbilt guard Iyana Moore, 6-3 forward Malaya Cowles from Wake Forest, 6-4 forward Gisela Sanchez from Kansas State and 5-8 guard Vanessa de Jesus of Duke.
“We are so excited to welcome Kelly back home to South Bend and Notre Dame!” Ivey said in a release Tuesday, May 27. “She had an outstanding career at St. Joseph High School, and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of her journey moving forward.
“Kelly has an incredible motor and is a crafty scorer and 3-point shooter. She brings quality intangibles, including her leadership and work ethic.”
Notre Dame’s returning players include All-American guard Hannah Hidalgo, who will be junior, senior guared Cass Prosper and senior guard KK Bransford.
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Notre Dame signed just one player in the freshman class of 2025 — 6-3 McDonald’s All-American Leah Macy. But her availability remains questionable after suffering a knee injury in January.
The Irish had four outgoing transfers in All-American guard Olivia Miles (TCU), freshman center Kate Koval (LSU), sophomore guard Emma Risch (Florida State) and senior grad forward Kylee Watson (Villanova).
Notre Dame also lost starters Maddy Westbeld, Sonia Citron and Liatu King to expired eligibility. All three were drafted into the WNBA. The Irish also lost reserve Liza Karlen and former walk-on Sarah Cernugle.
Notre Dame finished the 2024-25 season 28-6, losing in the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth year in a row.
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Note: this story has been updated to clarify Ratigan’s scoring record at Saint Joseph.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame women’s basketball gains local guard from transfer portal
