SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame continues its transfer portal acquisitions ahead of the 2025-26 season, as the Irish announced the addition of former Duke guard Vanessa de Jesus on Tuesday.
A native of Valencia, Calif., de Jesus spent four years in Durham. In 102 games with 18 starts, the 5-8 point guard averaged 4.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals per game. She had the best shooting year of her career last season (min. five games), averaging 47.6 percent from the floor.
“We are super grateful for the addition of Vanessa!” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said. “Vanessa has an incredible motor and high IQ that will translate perfectly in our offense. She is a three-level scorer and a relentless competitor!”
While spending four seasons in the ACC, de Jesus faced Notre Dame three times, most recently in the 2025 ACC Tournament semifinals where she went 3-5 from the floor, hit a triple and finished with 7 points.
In addition to her time at Duke, de Jesus represented the Philippines at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup and averaged 12.8 points and 3.2 assists over the course of the tournament. She helped lead the Philippines to its first win in group play since 2015.
De Jesus is the third transfer Notre Dame has added to its roster this offseason (Malaya Cowles and Gisela Sanchez), but she is the first guard. She joins fellow scholarship guards KK Bransford, Hannah Hidalgo and Cassandre Prosper.