University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Notre Dame
Huskies to Battle Notre Dame for Spot in NCAA Final Four
3/28/2026 3:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH, Texas – The top-seeded UConn women's basketball team (37-0) faces familiar foe Notre Dame (25-10) in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Elite Eight on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT in Dickies Arena. The game will air on ABC, Westwood One and the UConn Sports Network from Learfield (FOX Sports 97.9).
UConn entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed for the 23rd time in program history and as the No. 1 overall seed for the 15th time in program history. The Huskies have advanced to the Elite Eight for a record 30th time. UConn is 24-5 all-time in the Elite Eight.
UConn is 145-24 overall in the NCAA Tournament, which is the winningest record in the sport. The Huskies won the 2025 NCAA Championship, the program's 12th title.
Sophomore Sarah Strong had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five steals to lead UConn to a 63-42 win over No. 4-seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16. Freshman Blanca Quiñonez continued her strong NCAA Tournament debut with 16 points on 7-11 shooting and four steals. The Huskies started slow, trailing at the first quarter for just the second time this season. UConn and North Carolina scored the teams' fewest points this season.
Long-time rivals and former conference foes, UConn is 40-16 all-time vs. Notre Dame. The Huskies and Fighting Irish have faced off in the NCAA Tournament eight times. UConn is 3-5 vs. Notre Dame in March Madness.
The teams last faced off on Jan. 19 in Storrs, an 85-47 win for UConn. It was the largest victory margin in the series. Strong led the Huskies with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Notre Dame beat No. 2-seed Vanderbilt, 67-64, in the Sweet 16. This season, All-American Hannah Hidalgo leads the Irish with 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.7 steals per game. Hidalgo leads the nation in steals. Head coach Niele Ivey is in her sixth season at Notre Dame.
