Notre Dame women's basketball forward Sam Brunelle enters transfer portal
After three years with the Irish, Notre Dame women’s basketball junior forward Sam Brunelle has entered the transfer portal. She made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon via Twitter.
“These past three years have been the most amazing years of my life,” Brunelle said. “Coming to Notre Dame was a dream come true, and I am thankful for all the memories, friends and connections I have made while being here.
“I want to thank Coach McGraw for giving me the opportunity to become Fighting Irish, and also to Coach Ivey for continuing to help me grow on and off the court. I am also grateful to have had such an amazing support staff behind me over the past few years.”
Brunelle added she will graduate from Notre Dame this summer with a degree in film, television and theater and will begin a master’s program next fall. She has two years of college eligibility left.
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The 6-2, Virginia native averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists during her 2021-22 campaign. She was constantly a bit banged up this year, suffering through a head, ankle and shoulder injury. She donned a shoulder brace in several games down the stretch this season.
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“What’s pain?” Brunelle said earlier this month. “That’s what I keep saying. What’s pain? When you love something so much, you play through whatever you have to — especially for your teammates. I just show up every day and give them everything that I have.”
Her playing time record might shine some light on why she elected to transfer, as it decreased over her three years with the Irish. She burst onto the scene her rookie year, playing in an average of 31.5 minutes per game. Brunelle also averaged 13.8 points per game and eclipsed 20 points on six different occasions.
As a sophomore she averaged 22.8 minutes, and this year it was down to 16.7 minutes.
Brunelle was the third Irish player to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday. Guards Abby Prohaska and Anaya Peoples are departing as well. Prohaska is a senior and will graduate from Notre Dame in May.
