UConn and Notre Dame to Face Off in Elite 8 of Women's March Madness

The highly anticipated matchup between the top-seeded Huskies and sixth-seeded Fighting Irish will air on ABC this Sunday.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:05am

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The 2026 women's NCAA basketball tournament has reached the Elite 8 round, and the marquee matchup will feature No. 1 seed UConn taking on No. 6 seed Notre Dame on Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC and streamed on ESPN Unlimited and other live TV services.

Why it matters

This Elite 8 showdown pits two of the most successful and storied women's basketball programs against each other, with UConn and Notre Dame having combined for 10 national championships. The winner will advance to the Final Four, putting them one step closer to the national title.

The details

UConn, the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, breezed through the first three rounds to reach the Elite 8. Notre Dame, meanwhile, pulled off a pair of upsets to reach this stage, knocking off No. 3 seed Duke in the Sweet 16. Sunday's game will be a rematch of the 2018 national championship game, which UConn won 79-58.

  • The UConn vs. Notre Dame Elite 8 game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • The 2026 women's NCAA tournament began with Selection Sunday on March 15.

The players

UConn

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team, a perennial powerhouse that has won 11 national championships, including in 2018 when they defeated Notre Dame in the title game.

Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame women's basketball team, a six-seed in this year's tournament, has won two national championships and is seeking its first title since 2018.

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What they’re saying

“This is the matchup everyone has been waiting for. UConn and Notre Dame have such a rich history, and this Elite 8 game is sure to be an instant classic.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Women's Basketball

“We've got to bring our 'A' game if we want to take down the Huskies. But our team is ready for the challenge and we're excited to compete on this big stage.”

— Niele Ivey, Head Coach, Notre Dame Women's Basketball

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-Notre Dame game will advance to the Final Four, which will be held on Friday, April 3 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated Elite 8 matchup between two of the most successful women's basketball programs of the last decade promises to be an instant classic, with the winner moving one step closer to the national championship.