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Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Leads 6-Seed to Sweet Sixteen Bid
Junior guard Hannah Hidalgo has been the driving force behind Notre Dame's strong season and tournament run.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:04pm
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament as a 6-seed in the Fort Worth Regional, led by standout junior guard Hannah Hidalgo. After a solid season in the ACC, the Irish will open against MAAC champion Fairfield, with a potential second-round matchup against national title contenders UConn or Ohio State. Hidalgo's high-scoring and disruptive defense have been the keys to Notre Dame's success, as the program looks to re-establish itself as one of the best in the country.
Why it matters
Notre Dame is a storied women's basketball program that has reached the Final Four in recent years, but has fallen on tougher times lately. This tournament run, led by the dynamic Hidalgo, represents a chance for the Irish to regain their place among the nation's elite teams.
The details
The 6-seed Fighting Irish will open the tournament against Fairfield, a guard-driven team that will test Notre Dame's perimeter defense. A potential second-round matchup against either UConn or Ohio State would be a major challenge, but the Irish have the talent to pull off the upset with Hidalgo leading the way.
- The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament begins on March 21, 2026.
- Notre Dame's first-round game against Fairfield is scheduled for March 22, 2026.
The players
Hannah Hidalgo
A junior guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Hidalgo has been the driving force behind the team's success this season with her high-scoring ability and disruptive defense.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
A storied women's basketball program that has reached the Final Four in recent years, but is looking to re-establish itself as one of the best teams in the country with this tournament run.
What’s next
If Notre Dame defeats Fairfield in the first round, they will likely face a second-round matchup against either UConn or Ohio State on March 24, 2026.
The takeaway
This tournament run represents a chance for Notre Dame to regain its status as one of the premier women's basketball programs in the country, with junior guard Hannah Hidalgo leading the way. Her dynamic play on both ends of the court has been the key to the Irish's success this season, and could propel them to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.
