Bella Ragone’s Rise: Georgia Five-Star, Notre Dame Future & NFL Roots | Women’s Hoops

Imagine a 6’2 lefty sniper who can shoot you out of a zone, drop 38 in a revenge game, and still tell you she doesn’t need Hollywood — she just needs her people.That’s Bella Ragone.Georgia High School Player of the Year. Top 25 in the Class of 2026. Five-star recruit. Notre Dame women’s basketball signee. And in this episode of SportsLifeTalk – You Got Next (Savage Season), Bella opens up about her journey from NFL sidelines to Georgia hardwood greatness — and why loyalty and faith shaped her rise.Bella’s life wasn’t built in one zip code. With her dad coaching in the NFL, moving was normal. She’s lived in Louisville, Tennessee, Virginia/D.C., Chicago, Georgia, and even around Los Angeles. But when her dad joined the Rams and relocated to L.A., Bella made a defining decision — she stayed in Georgia. Not for spotlight. For stability. As she said, “I just need my people.” That mindset reveals everything about her foundation.Her basketball story didn’t start with hype. She played multiple sports growing up. But in middle school, it clicked. She realized she was good. She loved the grind. She wasn’t burning out. That’s when the game became serious.Bella calls herself a “three-way player.” Translation: true three-level scorer. She takes pride in her jump shot — deep range, quick release, and a deadly one-dribble pull-up. As a lefty, she naturally creates angles defenders struggle with. Over the past two years, she’s extended her range and sharpened her off-the-bounce scoring. When teams tried zone? She smiled and said, “That wasn’t a good idea.”Her defining moment came in the region tournament. Third matchup against a team that had already beaten them twice. Home floor. Pressure packed. Bella decided, “This has to be my game.” Final stat line — 38 points while her team scored 50 total. She carried them into the region championship and delivered one of the coldest performances of the season. That wasn’t stat padding. That was ownership.Her commitment to Notre Dame women’s basketball wasn’t based on rankings. It was about fit, faith, academics, and relationships. A Catholic university aligned with her values. A culture built on family. Coaches who invested in her as a person. She’s joining a special freshman class — and she knows it.The basketball DNA runs deep. Her mom played Division I at Louisville after moving from Estonia at 15 and learning a new language. Bella wears #5 in honor of her mom’s jersey number. Her dad, also a lefty, trained her and sharpened her competitive edge. Add in a Division I quarterback brother, and you get a household built on competition and discipline.When NIL opportunities came up, Bella didn’t overthink it. She said Lululemon. Authentic. Clean. Real. That kind of clarity matters in today’s NIL era.Off the court, she keeps it grounded — spending time with friends, supporting other sports, traveling, and protecting her energy. Her favorite local food spot? Buffalo’s. Order: Kickin’ Chicken Wrap. Simple comfort.During SLT Initiation, her Top 5 artists included Drake, SZA, Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, and Kendrick Lamar. Favorite superhero? Black Widow — independent and powerful. Theme song? “Over” by Drake. The biggest lesson basketball taught her? Resilience — pushing through fatigue and pressure when it would be easier to fold.Right now, Bella’s focus is healing, staying healthy, and preparing for her freshman season at Notre Dame. Long-term goals? Win a national championship. Earn individual accolades. Bring a title back to South Bend. Her words were clear: “We deserve it.”Bella Ragone didn’t choose the spotlight. She chose stability. She didn’t chase hype. She built foundation.She’s not just next.She’s built.