No. 1 UConn advances to the Final Four after defeating No. 6 Notre Dame, 70-52, with postgame insights, key performances, and what’s next in March Madness.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: A view of the score board after the UConn Huskies defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies have won the NCAA Women’s Basketball Fort Worth Regional One, after defeating No. 6 Notre Dame, 70-52. This is the 25th Final Four for the UConn Huskies. UConn is also the only undefeated team left in the bracket. Being an undefeated team has paid off in the past. Out of the previous 39 years in the NCAA women’s tournament, undefeated teams have won 10 times, and UConn accounts for six of those wins. FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Sarah Strong #21 of the UConn Huskies takes a shot over Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. The game seemed within reach in the first half for the Fighting Irish, as they went into the locker room down only seven points. The Notre Dame defense was relentless as it shut down the leading scorers for UConn. They held graduate student Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong under double digits with four and six points for the first half. However, in the second half, Strong had 15 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. This was her 31st 20+ game in her first two seasons as a Husky. She ties and joins UConn great Breanna Stewart with that number and surpasses Maya Moore, who had 30. FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Blanca Quinonez #4 of the UConn Huskies reacts after a play in the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. A standout performance was also notched for UConn by Big East Sixth Player of the Year, Blanca Quiñonez who had 20 points, eight rebounds, shooting 50% from beyond the arc, with four three-pointers. FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes a shot against the UConn Huskies during the second quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. In the loss for Notre Dame, junior sensation Hannah Hidalgo had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Hidalgo in the post game press conference was already locked in on what her team would need for next season to get back to the Elite Eight and even further. She said, “It gives motivation, it will be a different roster than this year, completely different again, but we finally got over that hump . We did not do that for two years, the first two years that I have been here, so to be able to do that with this team, when nobody thought we were going to get past the second round." She continued, “We know that the people coming in are going to have to raise their level, because we know what it feels like to get to the Elite Eight.” FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies and head coach Niele Ivey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish embrace prior to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. Additionally, Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey discussed that they wanted to win the game, but also that she is "beyond proud of my team" and that she is “grateful and blessed that I get to do what I love and it is coaching this group. You know, we wanted to win this game, but they submitted their legacy, getting me, getting us back to the Elite Eight is something special.”FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: UConn Huskies players throws confetti on head coach Geno Auriemma after the UConn Huskies defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. On the court after the game, after being presented the trophy, Geno Auriemma addressed the crowd and joked that “we always feel like we are the home team when we play.” He also congratulated Notre Dame on their season, stating, “I told Niele before the game, from when we played them in January at our place to today, I don’t know that any team has improved more than they did.” In the post game press conference, Auriemma explained that “the hardest game to play is to get to the Final Four." He continued, “We played a really good team and I am really proud of our players and how we managed to flip the switch and come out in the second half. I am really, really proud of my players.” Then a smirk, “Most of them.” Keeping with the tone of the team and the players on the roster, Fudd, Strong, and Quiñonez all enjoyed hearing that Auriemma was proud of the their performances, and his post win dance moves that included a cowboy hat during the trophy celebration. Fudd explained that Auriemma does not say he is proud a lot, “He doesn’t say it a lot. He doesn’t give out compliments too often, so to hear him say that does mean a lot. We love this team so much.” Strong added, “Deep down he really loves us, cares for us, and wants what’s best for us.” In making light of his cowboy hat and dance, Quiñonez said, “It was fun to see him smile, he does not normally do it, especially with me, so it was fun, seeing him happy, makes us happy. Strong continued, “Seeing him excited and kinda goofy is really good for us. He is not normally like that, he is normally all serious and urgg , so seeing him let loose and be his true self was great.” Fudd jokingly added, “I thought the cowboy hat looked good on him, pretty natural and when he breaks out a dance move that is how you know he is proud.”FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Sarah Strong #21 of the UConn Huskies reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. UConn heads to Phoenix for the Final Four where they play their first game in their pursuit to defend their national title on April 3rd on ESPN.
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