SAINT LOUIS

At Notre Dame, we expect the best. And our women's basketball team gave us exactly that.

The mistake is to think that we became the best last night when Ruth Riley hit the two freethrows that earned Notre Dame the national championship.

But this team was something special when they stepped on the floor for the first exhibition game in the Joyce Center. For those games, as well as many regular season games, there was no question of who would win. The only uncertainty was whether Notre Dame would win by 20, 30 or 40 points.

Yet the Irish put on a great show each time they took the court.

They displayed their talent, grace and athleticism for anyone who would show up to watch. The end of the games weren't a disappointing blowout, but they were an opportunity to see all 12 of the Notre Dame players on the court. The loudest voices at the end of the game: starters Riley, Kelley Siemon, Neile Ivey, Erika Haney and Alicia Ratay, cheering from the bench. Karen Swanson hitting a three was enough to bring the whole arena to cheer with the same enthusiasm as for a game-winning shot.

The team was the best in December when Purdue came to the Joyce Center. In a fortunate move, students who attended received "Beat Purdue" shirts.

Though few would have guessed it at the time, fans watched a preview of the national championship game.

The Irish were the best when UConn arrived in South Bend.

And finally, the fans were the best also, at the first women's basketball sellout. For the first time, students were turned away from the Joyce Center. Those who made it inside saw Notre Dame reach a new level, one where they became a true rival of UConn. The Uconn team that many predicted "their bench could beat Notre Dame" watched in disbelief as the Irish sent them back to Connecticut with a crushing loss.

As March Madness reached frenzied levels some refused to realize that Notre Dame was the best. In a CNNSI article naming the top 16 reasons to watch the Sweet Sixteen ignored the Irish. Tennessee and Connecticut were praised. Purdue's Katie Douglas was lauded. Southwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles even got the first four reasons all to herself. Hairstyles were even mentioned as an important reason to tune in to the Sweet Sixteen.

Yet not one word about the Irish.

The teams with a history of national championships as well as the team with the all-time leading scorer were eliminated. The Irish were there at the end to cut down the nets when it mattered.

Women's basketball has yet to incite the frenzy that Notre Dame's men's sports do. But excellence in women's basketball is well on it's way to becoming a Notre Dame tradition. The fans who have been there throughout the season, for a few games, or even just when everything was on the line — they've seen the best.

Light up the #1 on Grace Hall.

Our team earned it.

• Simply the best