May 20, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Former Notre Dame women’s basketball All-America forward and South Bend native Jacqueline Batteast has made the opening day roster for the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Batteast, who was a second-round draft pick of the Lynx (17th overall) last month, will be on Minnesota’s 11-player active roster when the Lynx open their 2005 regular season Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (CDT/EST) against the Houston Comets at Houston’s Toyota Center.
Batteast ranks among the top five in 16 career statistical categories at Notre Dame and recently completed the best season of her four-year tenure with the Irish. In 2004-05, she averaged 16.9 points per game while leading Notre Dame to a 27-6 record (third-most wins in school history) and a top-10 national ranking for much of the year. The Irish also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive season and secured their 12th straight 20-win campaign. Batteast ended her college career having averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and set a school record by starting 97 consecutive games to close out her career.
Batteast, who returned to the Notre Dame campus briefly this past Sunday to receive her a bachelor’s degree in film, television & theater, will be one of three Irish women’s basketball alumnae on 2005 WNBA opening-day rosters. Two members of the 2001 national championship team — Ruth Riley and Niele Ivey — will suit up for the Detroit Shock when they tip off their season Saturday at 1 p.m. (EDT)/Noon (CDT/EST) in South Bend against the Connecticut Sun at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Notre Dame women’s basketball alums will make six national television appearances during the 2005 WNBA season, according to the schedule released by the league earlier this month. Those games are as follows:
* Sunday, June 12 at Noon (CDT/EST) — Detroit at New York (ESPN2)
* Sunday, June 26 at Noon (CDT/EST) — Detroit at Los Angeles (ESPN)
* Sunday, July 17 at 5 p.m. (CDT/EST) — Connecticut at Minnesota (ESPN2)
* Saturday, July 23 at 3 p.m. (CDT/EST) — Detroit at Seattle (ABC)
* Saturday, July 30 at Noon (CDT/EST) — Connecticut at Detroit (ESPN)
* Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 9 p.m. (CDT/EST) — Los Angeles at Minnesota (ESPN2)
Additional games may be seen on NBATV or on local broadcasts around the country. Consult the official WNBA web site (WNBA.com) or your local media for times and availability.
— ND —