Four-Star Forward Bella Ragone Commits Notre Dame Women's Basketball

Bella Ragone, a highly touted 6-foot-2 small forward from Mill Creek High School in Georgia, has committed to play women's basketball at Notre Dame in the 2026 class. Ranked among the top prospects nationally, Ragone was named Georgia's High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year after her junior season, where she averaged over 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. She chose Notre Dame over other major programs such as UCLA, Duke, Louisville, and North Carolina, helped by official visits and the program's strong recent performance under coach Niele Ivey. Ragone is viewed as a key long-term asset for Notre Dame, which is balancing its roster with high school recruits and grad transfers, focusing on player development and retention. Coming from an athletic family, with a former NFL coach father and a mother who played college basketball, Ragone brings both talent and pedigree to the Fighting Irish. Her commitment marks Notre Dame's first in the 2026 class and has been met with excitement from current commits and fans alike.