KK Bransford not returning to Notre Dame women's basketball, enters portal
KK Bransford will in fact not be returning to Notre Dame women's basketball, per reports, entering the transfer portal instead.
In a somewhat surprising move, KK Bransford will be transferring out of the Notre Dame women's basketball program. The news was first reported by On3's Talia Goodman Friday, April 17. After Notre Dame lost to 1-seed UConn Sunday, March 29, Bransford told the South Bend Tribune that she "wanted" to use her final year of eligibility and that she "planned" to do so for the Irish.
However, she is deciding to look at other options in the portal. More: A look at the future of Notre Dame women's basketball after March Madness Bransford has a redshirt year of eligibility due to missing her entire junior season due to injury. In her senior year, Bransford missed 12 more games due to a right knee injury.
Notre Dame went 19-5 in the games which Bransford was on the floor. In the 2025-26 campaign, head coach Niele Ivey called Bransford the Irish's X-factor ― the spark they needed after heading into February at just 13-8. Once Bransford came back from injury Feb.
1, Notre Dame finished the season on a 12-3 run to its first Elite Eight since 2019. BREAKING: Notre Dame’s KK Bransford has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3 . The 5-11 senior averaged 7.