In the hallowed halls of women’s college basketball, few rivalries shine brighter—or burn hotter—than Notre Dame versus UConn. And who better to weigh in on this legendary clash than Skylar Diggins-Smith, Notre Dame royalty and a bona fide basketball luminary? The Seattle Storm guard swapped her WNBA jersey for her Fighting Irish fan gear on Thursday, watching Notre Dame’s 79-68 takedown of the Connecticut Huskies.
Sitting courtside, the former Irish superstar basked in the glory of a rivalry she once helped define. With a mix of nostalgia and swagger, Diggins-Smith marveled at the performance, especially that of freshman phenom Hannah Hidalgo, who dropped 29 points and made Paige Bueckers—a UConn legend-in-the-making—look just a little less invincible.
“This rivalry is still everything,” Diggins-Smith reflected in an Instagram clip, her tone as sharp as her crossover. “It’s electric every time. Back in my day, we loved snatching wins from them, and it’s no different now. Notre Dame-UConn is peak women’s basketball. Tonight was no exception.”
The Fighting Irish’s history against UConn is packed with drama, from epic Final Four battles to a lingering tension between iconic coaches Muffet McGraw and Geno Auriemma. For Diggins-Smith, the rivalry isn’t just a game; it’s a full-blown war with bragging rights as the ultimate prize.
When asked how far this current Notre Dame squad could go, Diggins-Smith didn’t hesitate to throw down some bold predictions.
“I’m telling you, this team has it,” she said, exuding confidence that only a two-time WNBA All-Star can. “We’ve had injuries, but as players come back, watch out. I’ve told Niele [Ivey]—this team is as good as any out there. Final Four? Championship? Why not? Let’s dream big, because we’re that talented.”
And let’s not forget Hidalgo, who’s quickly establishing herself as a name to know. Her fearless play against Bueckers not only secured a big win but also sent a clear message to the rest of the league: Notre Dame is here to play spoiler—or champion.
The Fighting Irish now stand at 8-2, with plenty of momentum heading into their Sunday matchup against Eastern Michigan. Whether they’ll live up to Diggins-Smith’s lofty expectations remains to be seen, but they’re making noise.
Skylar’s Rollercoaster WNBA Year
Of course, Diggins-Smith has her own battles brewing in the WNBA. After a rocky breakup with the Phoenix Mercury, she joined the Seattle Storm to team up with Jewell Lloyd and chase a championship. But let’s just say the Storm’s season was more turbulence than triumph.
Despite fielding a roster that included stars like Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle could barely keep its head above water. Diggins-Smith’s numbers—15.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game—were solid but a notable dip from her 19.1 ppg in Phoenix. Blame it on system adjustments, chemistry issues, or plain bad luck. Whatever the case, the Storm fizzled out, bowing to the juggernaut Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs.
But if we’ve learned anything about Diggins-Smith, it’s that she thrives on proving people wrong. Whether she’s hyping up her alma mater or plotting a WNBA comeback, you’d better believe she’s cooking up something special.
For now, though, she’s enjoying her courtside view, watching her Fighting Irish make waves and keeping the Notre Dame-UConn rivalry alive and fiery.
It’s college basketball at its finest—equal parts grit, talent, and just the right amount of shade.
