« Women’s Basketball 2018-19

Brianna Turner

School
University of Notre Dame
Position
Forward
Major
Design

Classroom

Brianna Turner graduated with a bachelor’s degree in design in May 2018 with a cumulative GPA of 3.138 and major GPA of 3.433. Turner also studied abroad in South Africa for three weeks during the summer of 2016. There, she learned about the culture of the country and also examined the cultural, historical and social psychological effects of racism and apartheid in South Africa.

Turner has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll two times during her undergraduate career (2016-2017, 2017-2018). Now as a grad student, Turner is taking a number of classes related to her interests in sustainability. She’s also done design-related internships.

Character

Turner is not just an All-American basketball player, she is an All-American human being. Turner is beyond her years in terms of compassion and empathy; simply look at her desire to be involved in the community as well as social change. She wants to make the world a better place. Turner’s study abroad experience, which was sponsored by Notre Dame, opened her eyes to the impact and footprint one individual can leave in this world. Turner spent a little over three weeks in South Africa, which created a passion in her to be one of the program’s best leaders.

When the Irish won the national championship in 2018, Turner missed the entire season due to an ACL injury. She persevered through the trying year and was instrumental in helping the team win a national title, as her energy and presence on the sideline kept the team confident and focused.

She is the ideal role model on the team, never shooting down an autograph. She also uses her social media platform to advocate issues near and dear to her heart.

Community

Since July 2017, Turner has volunteered at Oaklawn Children’s Campus (volunteers have to be 21), working with preteen boys, while mentoring a young girl. Turner volunteered once a week, only missing when basketball travel interfered. Oaklawn’s programs are designed to support youth in developing healthy coping skills so they can return to and live successfully in their community. As a faith-based organization, they believe in treating the whole person—mind, body and spirit. Oaklawn provides mental health and addiction treatment for children, adolescents and adults in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.

Last season, Turner also volunteered at the local animal shelter and the local food bank, and she visited Saint Joseph’s hospital and performed several school visits as well.

Competition

Turner is one of just three players all-time at Notre Dame to be at least a three-time AP All-American (second team 2016 and 2017, honorable mention 2015). Turner is also a three-time first-team All-ACC selection, two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Naismith Trophy Semifinalist, two-time Wooden Award National Ballot honoree, the 2016 ACC Player of the Year, a 2016 Honda Sport Award Finalist and the 2015 ACC Freshman of the Year. She also is a three-time WBCA All-American and two-time USBWA All-American.

Turner already ranks inside the top-10 in six career statistical categories, including seventh in scoring average (14.6) and second in total blocks (263). She led the nation in field goal percentage as a freshman (.652), becoming just the third freshman ever to do so. Turner also guided the Irish to the 2015 NCAA Title game.

Turner entered her final season with 1,456 career points, 16 20-point games and 21 double-doubles. Turner’s .622 career shooting percentage ranks second all-time at ND and fourth in the ACC. All-in-all, the Irish are 93-6 when Turner starts.

*All stats as of nomination time.