Former Notre Dame women’s basketball star Skylar Diggins is returning to South Bend.
The program announced on Monday that Diggins has been hired as an outside consultant that will serve as a special advisor to head coach Niele Ivey.
According to a press release, Diggins will depart from the Fighting Irish when the 2027 Unrivaled season begins for the Lunar Owls in January.
“We are honored to welcome Skylar Diggins as our Special Advisor to the Head Coach,” Ivey said. “This is truly a legendary addition. In this new role, Skylar will help elevate our program through her leadership, expertise and unique perspective as both a former student-athlete and accomplished professional. Skylar’s loyalty and commitment to the University have been unmatched.
Her ability to motivate, elevate and inspire our student-athletes will strengthen our culture, enhance our team and create meaningful opportunities for growth and development. Her impact will extend far beyond the game, helping shape the next generation of student-athletes and continuing to build a legacy of excellence within our program. Welcome home, Skylar.”
Diggins, a South Bend native, is one of the greatest players in Notre Dame women’s basketball history. She guided the Irish to three straight NCAA Final Four appearances from 2011 to 2013.
Between her junior and senior seasons, Diggins was a two-time Consensus All-American and named the Big East Player of the Year twice. She was also a two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is given to the top point guard each season, and a recipient of the inaugural Dawn Staley Award in 2013.
Diggins capped her Notre Dame career with 2,357 points, 745 assists, 557 rebounds and 381 steals, and was the program’s all-time leader in points and steals.
She recently capped her 12th WNBA season, six with the Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wing and three apiece with the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm. Diggins is a 7-time WNBA all-star and a four-time All-WNBA first team selection.
All-American Skylar Diggins has been hired as an outside consultant serving as the Special Advisor to Niele Ivey. Diggins will serve Ivey and her coaching staff and be an off-the-floor mentor to student-athletes focusing on leadership, personal development and brand building. pic.twitter.com/MtbljXGxp1
— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) October 26, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Former Notre Dame star joins women’s basketball coaching staff
