Muffet McGraw Retires: The Internet Reacts

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 04: Head coach Muffet McGraw of Notre Dame University during a game between Pitt and Notre Dame at Greensboro Coliseum on March 04, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Muffet McGraw announced her retirement yesterday, after 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame. A Hall of Famer, McGraw won two national titles at Notre Dame while reaching nine Final Fours. Her greatest legacy, however, will be what she did for others. A tireless and unapologetic promoter of women, McGraw made it her personal mission to advocate for more women in positions of power, both within and beyond the world of sports. Here’s how the world reacted to her retirement.

Former Notre Dame star Arike Ogunbowale, whose back-to-back game winners propelled the Irish to their second national championship, called McGraw the greatest coach she’s ever had:

To the greatest coach I’ve ever had, THANK YOU!! Enjoy retirement ❤️@MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/oVOxIvKejG
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) April 22, 2020

Other Irish alums likewise echoed the sentiment:

thirty-three @ndwbb seasons of fearless, competitive, and compassionate leadership. congratulations on your retirement... but you will forever be my ‘Coach’. ???????????? @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/6wcUhASIwe
— Natalie Achonwa (@NatAchon) April 22, 2020

. @MuffetMcGraw thank you for everything ☘️ so proud to have been able to play under you. The women’s college basketball world won’t be the same without you on the sideline. But you deserve this retirement, finally won’t have a bunch of 18-22 year olds stressing you out ???? pic.twitter.com/Cs18bLkI15
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) April 22, 2020

One of the best decisions of my life was to attend the University of Notre Dame to play for @MuffetMcGraw. You have impacted my life in so many ways. Congrats on an amazing career coach. The greatest to ever do it. Welcome to retirement ???????????? pic.twitter.com/2N5CR3yChn
— Devereaux *casual fan* Peters (@MsPeters14) April 22, 2020

To a legend—
Thank you. For believing in me. For always pushing me during my three years at Notre Dame. For still checking in on me. For everything. Happy Retirement ☘️ @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/ILNLbbErLI
— Jackie Young (@JackieYoung3) April 22, 2020

Fellow coaches, at Notre Dame and beyond, also took a moment to share their kudos:

Amazing run @MuffetMcGraw
One of the great coaches in ANY sport.
You have been and will continue to be a great friend and inspiration. pic.twitter.com/k4bnjOQMAA
— Mike Brey (@NDMikeBrey) April 22, 2020

@MuffetMcGraw thank you for your tireless work in serving our game. Your voice. Your activism for female coaches coaching in our game. Your knowledge. Your winning ways. You are appreciated. And thank you for giving us @IrishCoachIvey! @ndwbb
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) April 22, 2020

It was honor @MuffetMcGraw to be by your side for so many years!!! #frienship #mentor #memories @ndwbb #goat pic.twitter.com/5B0GT6MQ2W
— Carol Owens (@GoIrishCoachO) April 22, 2020

Wow- legend! Congrats on an incredible career and thank you for everything you’ve done for the game, @MuffetMcGraw https://t.co/sLrPdO2JJQ
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) April 22, 2020

Congratulations on your retirement @MuffetMcGraw #ThankYouMuffet pic.twitter.com/w8X4onYXnc
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 22, 2020

Former South Bend Mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the tremendous impact McGraw had on both college basketball and her local South Bend community.

Muffet McGraw has earned legendary status for her tremendous national impact on college basketball—as well as the deep respect and affection of our local community in South Bend. Thank you for your leadership! https://t.co/2rCFb5Juk0
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 22, 2020

And more than a few professional teams reached out to say congrats:

Congrats to @MuffetMcGraw on a fantastic career! ????????????

Enjoy retirement! ???? pic.twitter.com/1E0Jp0C4AM
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 22, 2020

After a Hall of Fame career, two national championships and a lifetime commitment to empowering women, @MuffetMcGraw steps down as the head coach of @NDwbb.

Thank you, Coach.

???? https://t.co/GyUAW4RvHF #ThankYouMuffet pic.twitter.com/lHB8v96mFH
— The Fighting Irish ???? (@FightingIrish) April 22, 2020

SB Nation wants us to remember: McGraw could get down.

Muffet McGraw, forever a legend pic.twitter.com/2X7u8mNEsB
— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 22, 2020

While WSLAM doesn’t want you to forget: she won a whole lot of games.

2 NCAA titles
9 Final Four appearances
5 ACC Championships
4x AP Coach of the Year
2017 @Hoophall Inductee

Thank you for everything, coach. @ndwbb @MuffetMcGraw pic.twitter.com/kKxx5pU6Fe
— WSLAM (@wslam) April 22, 2020

But no matter how many trophies she accumulated in her career, its speeches like these that we will miss the most. Thank you, Coach McGraw.

She'll be remembered as a women's basketball pioneer and legend – and beyond the hardwood, as a voice for women in sports.#ncaaW | @MuffetMcGraw @ndwbb pic.twitter.com/sxsQE3Mt4i
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) April 22, 2020

Muffet McGraw Retires: The Internet Reacts

Former Notre Dame star Arike Ogunbowale, whose back-to-back game winners propelled the Irish to their second national championship, called McGraw the greatest coach she’s ever had:

Other Irish alums likewise echoed the sentiment:

Fellow coaches, at Notre Dame and beyond, also took a moment to share their kudos:

Former South Bend Mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the tremendous impact McGraw had on both college basketball and her local South Bend community.

And more than a few professional teams reached out to say congrats:

SB Nation wants us to remember: McGraw could get down.

While WSLAM doesn’t want you to forget: she won a whole lot of games.

But no matter how many trophies she accumulated in her career, its speeches like these that we will miss the most. Thank you, Coach McGraw.

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Muffet McGraw Retires: The Internet Reacts

Former Notre Dame star Arike Ogunbowale, whose back-to-back game winners propelled the Irish to their second national championship, called McGraw the greatest coach she’s ever had:

Other Irish alums likewise echoed the sentiment:

Fellow coaches, at Notre Dame and beyond, also took a moment to share their kudos:

Former South Bend Mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the tremendous impact McGraw had on both college basketball and her local South Bend community.

And more than a few professional teams reached out to say congrats:

SB Nation wants us to remember: McGraw could get down.

While WSLAM doesn’t want you to forget: she won a whole lot of games.

But no matter how many trophies she accumulated in her career, its speeches like these that we will miss the most. Thank you, Coach McGraw.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter.

Ohio State ends UConn’s historic NCAA streak, but not a dynasty

NCAA Tournament tracker: ACC and SEC lead Sweet 16 slate

College basketball transfer tracker: Lexi Donarski enters portal

After NCAA exit, Ole Miss coach promises to ‘do damage’ in transfer portal

Kim Mulkey on NCAA tourney outfits: ‘I do not go pick these things out’

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