UConn dispatches Notre Dame, advances to Women’s Final Four

FORT WORTH, Texas — The top-ranked UConn squad has often showcased effortless dominance throughout its 54-game winning streak and flawless 2025-26 season, marked by victories with 30-point margins, spectacular plays from standout players Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, and smooth navigation through conference and Power 4 opponents, with just one contest finishing with a single-digit difference.

However, the Elite Eight matchup on Sunday diverged from this pattern, as the Huskies fought hard for a 70-52 triumph over the No. 6 seed Notre Dame, thereby earning their 25th berth in the Final Four and their 17th in the last 18 tournament runs.

UConn, maintaining an unblemished 38-0 record, is scheduled to compete against the victor of the No. 1 South Carolina versus No. 3 TCU game for a place in the national title contest.

On Sunday, UConn’s usually potent offensive output struggled initially, with Fudd and Strong delivering subdued performances relative to their usual level. Notre Dame, despite having suffered a 38-point defeat to UConn back in January, demonstrated worthy play for this prestigious stage, spearheaded by their star player, Hannah Hidalgo.

Both squads acknowledged that their previous encounter held no bearing on the current game. The Irish had secured victories in 10 of their preceding 11 contests, overcoming No. 2 seed Vanderbilt to reach their inaugural Elite Eight under coach Niele Ivey’s leadership. Meanwhile, the Huskies found themselves under even greater scrutiny following the earlier blowout, with the allure of another national championship and a perfect season almost tangible.

This marked the ninth clash between these competitors in the NCAA tournament, yet it represented their first confrontation with a Final Four spot on the line. It became evident quickly that the team capable of enduring the early defensive struggle would secure its passage to Phoenix.

The total of 10 points scored jointly by Strong and Fudd during the first half constituted their lowest combined output for any first half throughout the entire season. Nevertheless, the Huskies received a significant boost from 12 points contributed by freshman Blanca Quiñonez in the opening quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Irish narrowed the gap to 24-20, which led UConn’s coach Geno Auriemma to request a timeout before his team established its initial 10-point advantage, making the score 30-20. Ultimately, they headed into halftime with a 32-25 lead.

Notre Dame maintained proximity on the scoreboard for the duration of the third quarter until UConn capitalized on some momentum, concluding the period with a layup from Jana El Alfy and a three-point shot by Strong, thereby cementing a permanent double-digit lead.

Strong, already a recipient of several national player of the year accolades, tallied 15 of her 21 points in the latter half, concurrently with Fudd contributing nine of her 13 points post-intermission. Quiñonez achieved her second 20-point performance in her nascent career.

This display marked Strong’s 31st career game with at least 20 points, placing her alongside program icon Breanna Stewart for the highest count by a UConn athlete during their initial two seasons with the squad over the last quarter-century.

Hidalgo of Notre Dame, renowned for achieving a triple-double featuring steals against Vandy, did not score in the first quarter against UConn, ultimately concluding with 22 points from 7-for-18 shooting.

The national semifinal contests are scheduled for Friday, and the championship game is set for April 5.