ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TIPOFF MEDIA DAY

October 24, 2023

Niele Ivey

Sonia Citron

Kylee Watson

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Women's Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Notre Dame. Here with Niele Ivey, the reigning ACC Coach of the Year, so congratulations are in order always for that, continuing to be the inspiration that you are not just in the ACC but nationally.

Sonia Citron and Kylee Watson joining us as well.

The regular-season ACC champs. I almost go back when you're watching film, looking at all the different things in the schedule, a team that was so resilient throughout the season, in spite of injuries. I know a lot of coaches don't like to look back because we have the future to look to, but some lessons last year and how you can build on a season where the injury bug hit but...

NIELE IVEY: I was really proud of how determined my group was. Like you said, I use the word 'resiliency' a lot because they were in the fire. We talk about that a lot for this season. We have a great non-conference schedule, then playing in the ACC is going to be very challenging. So many incredible teams.

Last year they were just resilient. When Olivia went down, Dara went down, everyone knew they had to do a little bit more and they played for each other, which I loved about this group.

Q. Sonia, being a part of that, Coach said the challenge for you in understanding what it looked like to be a that point guard, also being a little bit more vocal. What did last year teach you about the player that you can be?

SONIA CITRON: Yeah, I mean, it was definitely really tough in the beginning just not being used to playing the point guard position, not used to having to call the plays, or like you said be vocal in that aspect.

I think that it showed me a lot of what I can be and how much of my game I can still get better at. That's, like, what I'm striving to be better at right now, is just being a better leader, being more vocal, being able to kind of calm down our team when things are not going our way.

Yeah, just being that person that, like, our team can look to. Definitely working on all those things.

I got a little taste of it last post-season, so...

Q. Kylee, for you, I know with each year you did look at the stats and say that I did this. For you, what do you want your game to grow to this year?

KYLEE WATSON: Yeah, I really want to play free. I want to be a leader for this team, whether that's vocally or leading by my actions. I feel like we lost a lot of leadership last year. Me, Sonia, Maddy, the people coming back from last year have to step up.

A lot of that isn't on the stat sheet, just doing a lot of little things.

Q. You talked about a couple of pieces that you miss, but a lot of nice pieces returning. Top three leading scorers from last year with Sonia, Olivia Miles as well as Westbeld. I think it's pretty impressive that you can say the youth that you've seen, two of them having able to have freshman of the year as well, but continuing to grow. They almost lead as seniors or upperclassmen. What can we expect from them? Olivia is still working her way back.

NIELE IVEY: Right, I mean, all of them -- obviously Olivia coming back from injury. Sonia and Maddy, they've worked on their game and are back even stronger, which is really, really impressive.

Obviously you're going to see a different Kylee. She's so much more improved. She's playing with a ton of confidence. She's put so much work in her game.

Maddy is working on her versatility.

Sonia is working on her ability to score. She does a lot of things for us really well offensively and defensive line. But they both talked about the leadership piece.

All three of them, all of our upperclassmen have worked on their leadership. It's really impressive to see the growth. That's what I love about being their coach, is to see where they were when they stepped on campus, to see where they are now.

Q. When you're looking at how this team may be different, may be better, may be a little bit more of a different type of look this season, what can fans expect this year from Notre Dame?

NIELE IVEY: I think this group is working the hardest I've ever been a part of. They're really competitive. Our gym is competitive. We were always competitive in the past, but this year this group, I just love the competitive atmosphere that they've created.

They're working hard to make each other better. The way that they work, they're just really committed. When anyone walks into our practice, they leave and they're like, That group is really bought in. That's a credit to these two right here, a credit to what we're trying to accomplish. We know what to expect. We know what we need to do. I just love, like, their competitive drive that they have this year.

I feel like people are going to see this team and they'll be, They're fun to watch, they're electric, they're really competitive but they play for each other.

Q. Making it work, what's the key to that for you guys?

SONIA CITRON: I mean, I think there has to be love on a team. I think this team that we have is so close. We just play for each other. I think ultimately that's what's going to give you the best results.

Yeah, you need to be good, you need to be talented. We have all that. But just playing for each other. Like Coach Ivey said, playing with heart and hustle every single game, just playing tough.

KYLEE WATSON: We're a really, really close team, which is saying a lot because we were really, really close last year.

I think going on the foreign tour helped us. Playing games overseas helped a lot. Even carrying stuff over from last year, the adversity we faced together, we're bringing so many people back from that year. Just kind of using that, then kind of leading the younger girls, as well.

Q. I'm glad you brought up the tour to Greece and Croatia. You're going back overseas for just a game that everyone is excited to see in Paris. Playing and taking on Dawn Staley and South Carolina. Coach, the importance of having that on the schedule, what does that mean for you guys to be challenged early?

NIELE IVEY: We're blessed and grateful to have this matchup, to be on that stage. It's a huge stage. I have so much respect for South Carolina and Dawn Staley. Going up against one of the best in our game, I think it's going to be just amazing.

To be able to showcase women's basketball, the first time men's or women's collegiate game being on display in Paris, is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I'm grateful that my team gets a chance to be a part of this. It's not just a game. We realize it's bigger than just the game. We're highlighting women's sports, but we're also getting a chance to impact the community.

I always talk about is this bigger than basketball. For us to be a part of this is just going to be really incredible. Like I said, I'm super grateful to be leading this group.

Q. When that announcement was made, you probably knew a couple days before, but what was going through your mind?

SONIA CITRON: I mean, I think we were all just thinking, like, Wow. We were kind of shook. Like Coach Ivey said, it's an amazing opportunity, once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. Not only to be playing in Paris, but playing against South Carolina, which is an amazing basketball team.

So, yeah, just blessed and grateful.

KYLEE WATSON: Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a really cool experience. I know when we found out we're like, we're traveling...

But, no, it's awesome. Not only being in Paris, but playing South Carolina is going to be a great test for us, to see where we're at at the start of the season. Really excited.

Q. Staying abroad if you don't mind. You said the foreign tour helped you grow and get better acquainted with one another. What can you share about little things that you were able to do, whether it be on and off the court, that really allowed you to get closer as a team?

KYLEE WATSON: I mean, absolutely. I guess the biggest thing would be the things that weren't necessarily planned. There was a night where we all would just hang out in each other's rooms, be with each other till like 2:00 in the morning (laughter), just talking, getting to know each other better.

Obviously we had to play against another team, too, which was cool for the basketball aspect of it. The biggest part of that trip I feel like off the court and the camaraderie we had with each other, leaving that so close.

SONIA CITRON: Kind of off of that, just spending time with each other. I know we're always with each other, but at the same time it's always basketball or school. We're really busy. So getting the time to spend, just quality time with each other, whether it be like we're at the beach or we're on the boat for the day, which was really cool.

But, yeah, I think it just kind of helped us build chemistry. Like Kylee said, we usually don't get to play other opponents in the summer, so it was cool just to not play against our practice players, see how we do against another team.

Q. Going back to what Kylee has been for this team, transferring from Oregon, everything that she has been able to do from last year, having the breakout season and voted most improved player for your team as well, what are some things that you've seen in her game that allowed her to have those type of attributes?

NIELE IVEY: I love her motor. She's somebody I recruited coming out of high school, so I just knew what type of impact player she would be in college.

Last year she had a chance to learn our system, learn the things that I needed for her to do for her to be successful and also to help us. Having that transition, she got better every game.

She came out last year, earned that spot, and kept it the entire season. Now this summer I've just seen so much growth from her. A lot of her confidence, you could tell she's gained a lot of confidence. Just knowing who she is, what she brings, her value.

I think I tell her all the time, my assistant coaches and her team, we're always kind of letting her know what she does well, at least for myself. Just to see what she's done this past summer, where she's at right now, I'm excited for her, for the world to see what we know and see every day.

Q. When you hear that from your coach, who is fiery and has made her mark in this program, what does that mean to you about you can take it to the next level to build on it?

KYLEE WATSON: Yeah, I mean, I can't thank her enough since I transferred here. That's what I was looking for, someone that cared about me as a person, on and off the court. She pushes me every day as well as my team.

So just when you play for a coach like that, you want to go out and you want to win for them. That was one of the things that I wanted, was like a coach I wanted to run through a wall for. She does that for me, so I'm really grateful.

Q. Sonia, I remember breaking down film on all the point guards for Notre Dame and for Olivia Miles. What does she see? How is she setting things up? The IQ is through the roof. How would you describe how you break things down? What goes into it? Is it innate, you know reads someone else may not know? What makes you such a special individual in that department?

SONIA CITRON: I guess I would say it's kind of innate, but at the same time, like, I think I definitely have to practice it, and I have a lot of work to do (smiling).

Definitely just seeing the court... I think, like, knowing your teammates, I kind of learned it from Liv, playing with her. I know she's always looking for me because, like, we just play with each other so well, like I know when to cut, I know when she's going to pass it. We'll kind of like make eye contact or we have that kind of chemistry. I think that is super important.

Just getting to play with your teammates a lot, building that chemistry definitely, like, helps a lot.

Q. Is there a nickname for this duo? Are we there yet?

SONIA CITRON: (Laughter).

Q. The mantra, each year it's a new challenge. For you guys, what is that word or something you are taking with you each game that makes this team, describes what this team is going to be going through each year?

NIELE IVEY: Well, our theme, actually sharing our theme, is just like rising up. Last year obviously we went through a lot of adversity, but just rising past whatever challenges that we faced.

We're challenging ourselves, like, in the non-conference, as you guys know. Whatever the case may be, rising up for challenges is kind of what I stress with the team.

SONIA CITRON: Kind of building out of that, being in the fire. We have a lot of opportunities this year where we're going to be in the fire. Like Coach Ivey said, it gives us an opportunity to rise up, like playing in Paris against South Carolina for the first game, playing at UConn or at Tennessee.

So just getting used to being in the fire and being comfortable with that.

KYLEE WATSON: Yeah, just being resilient, overcoming adversity like we know we can do. Being really competitive, which we already talked about. This team is super competitive. We're going to go out and play hard every game, so yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations again for everything you've done, but looking forward to seeing what you do this year.