Two Notre Dame women’s basketball centers pen goodbye letters to Irish after entering transfer portal
With Kylee Watson and Kate Koval having entered the NCAA transfer portal, Notre Dame women’s basketball is left without a single center on its 2025-26 roster. Watson and Koval are not leaving without saying goodbye to South Bend, at least.
They both penned farewell addresses to the Fighting Irish via social media.
“I love Notre Dame,” Watson said in her post. “I love Coach [Niele] Ivey, and I love this entire program. This decision was not about leaving something, but instead embracing something new for my final year of college basketball.
“I will be graduating with a Notre Dame degree this Spring and leave here with relationships that go way deeper than this sport. This program is part of the reason I am who I am today, and I am truly indebted to everyone a part of it and to this school.”
Watson was on the Notre Dame roster for three seasons after transferring in from Oregon. She played in and started 64 games for the Fighting Irish over two seasons, averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She injured her knee at the end of the 2023-24 season and did not suit up at all in 2024-25.
Koval, meanwhile, was the No. 5 recruit in the class of 2024 according to ESPN. A 6-5 post presence, she was viewed as a future centerpiece for the Fighting Irish — literally. Notre Dame had been longing to sign a post player like her for a while in the Ivey era. It finally happened, but Koval is on the move after just one season in Ivey’s program.
Koval played in 32 games with 10 starts. She averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game.
“Dear Notre Dame, Although I’ve only been here for a year, this place has had a tremendous impact on me,” Koval wrote. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a special program and university, even if just for a short time.
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“To my coaches, teammates, and everyone who supported me along the way—thank you. I’ve learned so much during my time here, and I’ll carry those lessons with me wherever I go.
“To the Notre Dame fans—thank you for your unwavering support, your passion, and the love you’ve shown through every high and low. Playing in front of you is an experience I will always treasure. With appreciation, Kate Koval.”
Watson and Koval were two of four former Notre Dame players who entered the transfer portal last week. Graduate senior guard Olivia Miles and junior guard Emma Risch were the others. Miles and Risch did not post social media acknowledgments detailing their decisions to leave the program.
Notre Dame has four scholarship players currently on the 2025-26 roster; seniors guards KK Bransford and Cassandre Prosper, junior guard Hannah Hidalgo and incoming freshman forward Leah Macy.
