NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Finding a dynamic post player was high on the list for Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey, and she can officially check it off with the addition of transfer Kylee Watson.
In two years at Oregon, the 6-4 forward was efficient from the field, knocking down 54.9 percent of her shots. Furthermore, Wastson was 1-of-3 Oregon players this past season who played in all 32 games, averaging 16.3 minutes.
“Exciting news today with Kylee Watson officially joining our ND family,” Coach Ivey said. “Kylee is one of the most dynamic and versatile posts in her class. She can score at all three levels and is extremely explosive in transition, either running the floor or igniting the break. What I love about her most is her motor and toughness.”
Watson led the team in field goal percentage, converting 54.8 percent from the field, while averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. She scored a career high 21 points versus McNeese, connecting on 10-of-11 from the field, becoming the first Ducks player to shoot 90 percent in a game (with at least 10 made field goals) since Ruthy Hebard in November of 2019.
In fact her shooting prowess was on display when she connected on 12 straight field goals between the Dixie State and Oklahoma games in November.
As a true freshman, she appeared in 18 of Oregon’s 24 games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds, while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor.
Internationally speaking, Watson competed for Team USA at the 2021 3×3 National League in France. She was also a member of the USA U-16 National Team in 2017, when they won gold at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
Out of high school she was the No. 17 ranked recruit in the 2020 class and a consensus top-25 recruit by Blue Star, Prospect Nation and ASGR. She also cleaned up with the major national awards, being named a McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic invitee and the 2020 New Jersey Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Lastly, for those counting, Watson brings the New Jersey native counter up to three alongside Dara Mabrey and Olivia Miles.
— ND —