NCAA Women's Tournament Elite 8 Matchups Set for Sunday

UConn faces upset-minded Notre Dame, while UCLA battles Duke for a spot in the Final Four

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action and intensity of a women's basketball game, with fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes representing the players' movements and the competitive spirit of the tournament.The NCAA women's basketball tournament reaches a fever pitch as the Elite 8 matchups pit some of the sport's top teams and players against each other in a battle for a Final Four berth.Notre Dame Today

The NCAA women's basketball tournament has reached the Elite 8 stage, with two highly anticipated matchups set for Sunday. Undefeated UConn will take on a surging Notre Dame squad led by National Player of the Year candidate Hannah Hidalgo, while UCLA looks to reach the Final Four for the second straight year as they face off against Duke.

Why it matters

These games feature some of the top teams and players in women's college basketball, with the winners advancing to the Final Four. The UConn-Notre Dame rivalry is one of the most storied in the sport, while UCLA and Duke are both seeking to continue their tournament runs and reach the national semifinals.

The details

In the first game, No. 1 seed UConn will face off against No. 6 seed Notre Dame. The Huskies routed the Irish 85-47 in their regular season matchup, but Notre Dame has since found its stride, taking down No. 2 Vanderbilt and No. 3 Ohio State in the tournament. Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo is coming off a historic triple-double performance and will look to lead the Irish to the upset. In the nightcap, No. 1 seed UCLA will battle No. 3 seed Duke. The Bruins cruised to the Elite 8 with double-digit wins, while the Blue Devils avenged an earlier loss to LSU with a dramatic buzzer-beater in the Sweet 16.

  • UConn and Notre Dame last met on January 19, 2026.
  • UCLA and Duke previously faced off in a Players Era Championship game earlier this season.

The players

Hannah Hidalgo

The Notre Dame junior guard is a National Player of the Year candidate who is coming off a historic triple-double performance in the tournament. She is the heart and soul of the Irish team.

Sarah Strong

The UConn sophomore forward is also in the National Player of the Year conversation. She has been a consistent scoring threat for the Huskies all season.

Lauren Betts

The UCLA senior center is a top WNBA prospect who has dominated in the tournament, averaging a double-double while shooting over 72% from the field.

Toby Fournier

The Duke sophomore forward is the Blue Devils' leading scorer and was a key contributor when these teams met earlier in the season.

Geno Auriemma

The legendary UConn head coach is wary of the rematch with Notre Dame, acknowledging that the Irish have had time to get healthy and find their roles.

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What they’re saying

“'They weren't at full strength, and they've had time to be together [now]. I think everybody on their team knows what their role is. … I mean, there's a reason why they're playing tomorrow.'”

— Geno Auriemma, UConn Head Coach

“'Hidalgo is a menace on the defensive end of the court, so much so that Auriemma compared her to Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.'”

— Andy Backstrom, Yahoo Sports Writer

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-Notre Dame game will advance to the Final Four, while the victor of the UCLA-Duke matchup will also secure a spot in the national semifinals.

The takeaway

These Elite 8 games feature some of the top teams and players in women's college basketball, with the winners earning a trip to the Final Four. The UConn-Notre Dame rivalry adds extra intrigue to their matchup, while UCLA and Duke are both looking to continue their tournament runs and reach the national semifinals for the first time in years.