SOUTH BEND — Jaci Abii doesn’t look like one of the new kids on campus.
It may have only been for 35 minutes, but the Notre Dame women’s basketball freshman impressed during an open practice session with the media Thursday, July 16.
The 6’2” Texas native worked with the Irish’s guards during position-specific drills. As she shot 3-pointers alongside graduate student transfer Madison St. Rose, it could have been hard for the untrained eye to tell much of a difference between who was in their first year of college basketball and who’s in their fifth.
Abii, who tore her left ACL in 2024, was moving up and down the court with ease, scoring inside and on the perimeter.
The 18-year-old looked like one of, if not the, strongest players on the court as well, with smooth ballhandling to compliment her game. Joined by four other freshmen, Abii and the rest of the quintet fill out half of Notre Dame women’s basketball’s roster.
It would be a shock if Abii wasn’t starting for the Irish come Nov. 1 in Rome against Villanova, especially after what head coach Niele Ivey said about her game.
“That’s one of her superpowers — that she can play multiple positions,” Ivey said. “She’s very comfortable on the perimeter, but she also has great size and can go inside. … She reminds me a little bit of Jackie Young — kind of a hybrid of somebody who can be versatile and play multiple positions. I don’t want to throw too much at her, but she can do so many things well. I’m trying to narrow what I’m teaching her, but she’s going to be special.”
St. Rose also spoke highly of Abii, by whom she has been affectionately nicknamed “Mother Maddie.” The former Princeton Tiger said Abii’s transition to a college program, even one of Notre Dame’s caliber, was smooth.
She still tries to give Abii as much advice as possible, but she can tell that with each passing day, Abii is more self-assured than the one before.
“I enjoy being challenged and knowing that I’m developing,” Abii said. “I don’t know if I’m 100% comfortable, but I’m glad I look comfortable. I did adjust very quickly as far as the bond with the team. I think that’s a really big step for feeling comfortable on the court and feeling comfortable in who I am. The rest of it is coach Ivey always telling me, ‘Know who you are.’ She’s a player’s coach, so she’s always hyping me up.”
Becoming friends with the Irish’s superstar player
Once Abii walked away from her first interview with South Bend’s local media since joining the program, Ivey was waiting for her in the next room, greeting her next star with a big hug. Not only has Abii developed a strong relationship with Ivey and St. Rose, she’s also quickly become friends with the face of the Irish.
Abii has joined reigning ACC Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo in numerous TikToks throughout the summer. Although Hidalgo was not in town for the Irish’s practice Thursday, Abii spoke about her bond with one of the nation’s top players as if she had known Hidalgo for years.
“She’s going to be mad at me for saying this, but I would compare her to a young aunt,” Abii said. “She wants you to do your best in everything, so she’s going to push you. She’s not going to baby you at all, but at the same time she does care about the bond. She’s going to kick it with us and build that relationship, and that’s something we built really early on.”
As Abii alluded to, Hidalgo has made the effort to connect with all five of the Irish’s 2026-27 freshmen. Abii said the one word she would use to describe her class is “big” — both in physical size and the reach of their personalities.
The shortest among them is No. 28 prospect Jenica Lewis at 5’10”, while the others all join Abii standing at 6’2” or taller. Off the court, all five have extroverted personalities and have used those traits to fit in right away with their elder teammates.
While other freshmen like Lewis and No. 39 prospect Amari Byles also stood out during Notre Dame’s limited practice availability, Abii proved she might fit in with the best newcomers in the country.
Don’t be surprised if Abii contends for more awards than just the ACC Rookie of the Year come March 2027, and don’t be surprised if she’s a dependable option alongside Hidalgo in big games that same month.
“I’ve had to take a step back and realize how blessed I am,” Abii said. “Being able to handle so much is honestly a blessing. God put me in this position for a reason. Everything they’re throwing at me — I’m excited, [and] it’s a lot of fun. During the workouts, I’m struggling and dead tired, then afterwards a smile is on my face … They knew it was going to be a lot regardless, and it’s all on me at the end of the day, but they came in with so much support.”
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Sky is the limit for Notre Dame women’s basketball freshman Jacy Abii
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
