The 2024 Olympic Games officially kicked off on Friday night, and five current or former Notre Dame women’s basketball players are in Paris and preparing for their moment in the biggest stage.
Natalie Achonwa — Canada (Notre Dame ’14)
Achonwa is the most veteran of the group, as the 2024 Olympics are her fourth. She is the first Canadian women’s basketball player to appear in four Games. The team placed eighth in London (2012), seventh in Rio (2016) and ninth in Tokyo (2021). She is a Senior Women’s National Team captain.
Lauren Ebo — Nigeria (Notre Dame ’23)
The Washington, D.C., native finished her collegiate career as a graduate student at Notre Dame in 2022-23. She averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds over 28 games while in South Bend, and this is her first Olympic appearance.
Jewell Loyd — USA
Loyd, a former No. 1 overall WNBA draft selection by the Storm in 2015, still plays for Seattle. She is looking to win her second gold medal in the women’s 5×5 after earning her first in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Cassandre Prosper — Canada (Notre Dame ’25)
Prosper is the sole Irish representative who is still in South Bend, as she is entering her third season under Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey. She is a first-time Olympian but is no stranger to the international scene; the Montreal native won a pair of bronze medals last year at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup.
Jackie Young — United States
Another former No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick, Young is currently a guard for the back-to-back WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. She is seeking her second gold medal in as many Olympics, having won a gold medal with Team USA in the 3×3 in Tokyo.
Women’s basketball in Paris kicks off with group play on July 29. A full group play schedule for each of the three aforementioned teams is below.
United States —
GAME 1: USA v. JAPAN
Monday, July 29 at 3 p.m. ET on USA
GAME 2: USA v. BELGIUM
Thursday, August 1 at 3 p.m. ET on USA
GAME 3: USA v. GERMANY
Sunday, August 4 at 11:15 a.m. ET on USA
Canada —
GAME 1: CANADA v. FRANCE
Monday, July 29 at 11:15 a.m. ET on Peacock
GAME 2: CANADA v. AUSTRALIA
Thursday August 1 at 7:30 a.m. ET on Peacock
GAME 3: CANADA v. NIGERIA
Sunday, August 4 at 7:30 a.m. ET on Peacock
Nigeria —
GAME 1: NIGERIA v. AUSTRALIA
Monday, July 29 at 5 a.m. ET on Peacock
GAME 2: NIGERIA v. FRANCE
Thursday, August 1 at 11:15 a.m. ET on Peacock
GAME 3: NIGERIA v. CANADA
Sunday, August 4 at 7:30 a.m. ET on Peacock
The quarterfinals, semifinals and gold medal match will take place on August 7, 9 and 11, respectively. Team USA has won the last eight gold medals and has not lost an Olympic game since 1992.