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Notre Dame touts arrivals of Shepard and Thompson

By Mike Peden

Apr 6, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Lili Thompson (1) dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the Connecticut Huskies in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Lili Thompson (1) dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the Connecticut Huskies in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame made news again to start the month of June, and the developments should be cause for excitement.

The school announced the arrival of Lili Thompson, a graduate transfer from Stanford. Thompson had a decorated tenure in her three years at Stanford, making the All-Pac 12 team twice.

“She has good leadership skills and is capable of running the team. She gives us experience at the highest level and a maturity beyond her years,” Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said in a statement.

Apr 6, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Lili Thompson (1) dribbles around Connecticut Huskies center Stefanie Dolson (31) during the first half of the game in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Lili Thompson (1) dribbles around Connecticut Huskies center Stefanie Dolson (31) during the first half of the game in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

As a graduate transfer, Thompson will be eligible to play for the 2017-18 season. She was part of Stanford’s most recent Final Four trip in 2014, and was a team captain in the 2015-16 season. In a stroke of coincidence, Thompson helped Stanford eliminate Notre Dame in the regional semifinal of the 2016 NCAA tournament. She ended her junior year averaging 14.7 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Following her junior season, Thompson left the Cardinal program. She completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford, but her choice to leave remains shrouded in mystery.

Whether or not a motive is revealed, Thompson’s move to Notre Dame will undoubtedly stabilize the point guard slot next season. The Irish had a big void to fill following the graduation of Lindsay Allen, who is now with the New York Liberty.

Dec 21, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Jessica Shepard (32) looks to pass against Connecticut Huskies guard Saniya Chong (12) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Jessica Shepard (32) looks to pass against Connecticut Huskies guard Saniya Chong (12) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Another arrival to Notre Dame will have to wait a year to play, but the potential is worth the pause. On Thursday, the Omaha World-Herald reported that Jessica Shepard would join the Irish. She announced her intent to transfer from Nebraska in March.

Shepard was a statistical juggernaut in her two seasons with the Cornhuskers, leading the team in scoring and rebounds. She became the fastest player in Nebraska history to reach 1,000 career points. As a sophomore, Shepard was fourth in the Big Ten in rebounds and ninth in scoring.

Although her individual accolades were amazing, Shepard noted a desire to position herself for future endeavors. Nebraska suffered considerably last season, going 7-22. Notre Dame, on the other hand, has reached the Sweet 16 or higher in each of the last seven years.

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