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The 2025-2026 school year marks the 50th anniversary of women’s varsity athletics here at Notre Dame. Women were first admitted to the university in the fall of 1972, and just four short years later, tennis was introduced as the first women’s varsity sport. Since then, Notre Dame women’s sports teams have achieved a standard of excellence that is unparalleled anywhere else. To this day, Notre Dame’s women’s athletic programs consistently make deep postseason appearances, and they have no shortage of national championship titles. With the substantial impact female athletes have had on this university, the “Cheer Her Name” initiative is a wonderful way of honoring the generations of women who have paved the way, not only for women’s athletics but for all women at Notre Dame.

Women’s Volleyball

In the Fighting Irish’s September 5th game against Illinois, sophomore Morgan Gaerte had 34 kills, breaking the school record for kills in a game and continuing her dominant performance this season. Additionally, Gaerte was named the ACC’s co-offensive player of the week following the Illinois game, and she is ranked 15th in Division 1 for kills per set and 16th in points per set.

With the “Cheer Her Name” initiative in the background, Gaerte is picking the perfect time to make history, while also inspiring the next generation.

“It’s so important to be able to look out into the stands and see little girls attending our games,” said Gaerte. “We need to be role models and give our best efforts for the people who watch us play.”

This standard of being a role model is something that inspired Gaerte in choosing Notre Dame in the first place. As a native of Angola, Indiana, a town about 90 minutes west of campus, Gaerte knew that Notre Dame was a special place.

“You can tell the coaches really care about the players,” she said, speaking of her recruitment process.

The support for the players fosters a great culture, one that empowers female athletes.

Gaerte knows that her role as a Notre Dame volleyball player comes with the added responsibility of setting an example for the next generation of female athletes. Her advice to young female athletes is to stay confident in yourself and your abilities, try your best in school and in sports, and not be afraid of taking risks. Like many other athletes, Morgan Gaerte is inspiring the next generation with her excellence and will undoubtedly continue to do so throughout her career and beyond.

Women’s Soccer

In a thrilling ACC opener on Sept. 11, the Fighting Irish women’s soccer team kicked off the conference season with a stellar 2-1 victory over North Carolina State. A notable performance was made by sophomore Izzy Engle, who retaliated against the Wolfpack goal with a flawless upper-90 first-half shot. Sporting an 8-0-1 season record as of Sept. 26, Engle looks forward to the remainder of the season with confidence in her team, anticipating an ACC tournament gold.

“Last year was last year,” the 2024 TopDrawerSoccer Freshman of the Year reflected. Named USC second team All-American for her unmatched freshman season, Engle is mentally approaching the upcoming games with both confident excitement and humility.

“I want to put my best foot forward for the team and their success as well as my own,” she remarked, noting her gratitude for her surrounding community.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing for the Irish, Engle feels blessed to thrive in an environment that fosters both faith and family. She refers to her teammates as her “29 other best friends,” and applauds the sports staff for promoting such a strong team culture.

When asked about maintaining such a high motivation, Engle shared that her passion was rooted in both support for her team and her faith. “First of all, my faith is so important,” she shared, acknowledging Notre Dame’s commitment to Catholic tradition.

“I view my talent as a gift from God and my playing is a way to make His name more known, to give me a platform to glorify God.”

When faced with the inevitable pressure of success on the field, Engle views each opportunity as a blessing and leans on her teammates for optimism. With an elevating college career amidst the “Cheer Her Name” initiative, Engle holds a special gratitude in her heart for all of the female athletes who had come before her, fighting relentlessly for opportunities to pursue what they loved. Engle plays with gratitude, proud and amazed to represent the next generation in what she considers a historical movement. Each step on and off the field is made to honor those who have come before her and to inspire the next generation of young women to stick with their aspirations.

With notable victories against Duke, Michigan and UNC Chapel Hill, the Irish have only begun their promising season and will continue empowering women to be leaders in all aspects of their lives.