“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure this never happens again.”
That was the message that Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf conveyed to her team following their surprisingly-early exit from the 2022 NCAA tournament. The Fighting Irish, a team that garnered some early consideration as a potential regional host, were eliminated prior to the regional final, falling well short of the run that some thought they were capable of.
The early elimination, which also drew attention for the lopsided score in the Irish’s postseason opener, didn’t showcase the best of a good Irish team, but what it did do was leave a group of returners with a determined fire in their bellies.
