UConn women advance to 17th Final Four in past 18 seasons

Huskies defeat Notre Dame 70-52 behind strong performance from Blanca Quiñonez off the bench.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:13pm

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's college basketball game, with overlapping planes of navy blue, light blue, and white shapes representing the action on the court.UConn's dominant run to the Final Four continues, with the Huskies' depth and versatility on full display against Notre Dame.Notre Dame Today

The UConn women's basketball team advanced to the Final Four for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons, defeating Notre Dame 70-52 in the Elite Eight. Freshman forward Blanca Quiñonez led the Huskies with 20 points, including 4 three-pointers, while Notre Dame's star guard Hannah Hidalgo scored 14 points in the second quarter to keep the Fighting Irish in the game.

Why it matters

UConn's consistent presence in the Final Four underscores the program's elite status in women's college basketball. The Huskies' ability to get key contributions from role players like Quiñonez, in addition to their star power, makes them a formidable opponent for any team.

The details

Quiñonez, UConn's third-leading scorer during the regular season, stepped up with 14 points in the first half as the Huskies' stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd struggled early. Quiñonez finished with 20 points, shooting 4-for-7 on three-pointers and adding 7 rebounds. Notre Dame's Hidalgo, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, responded with 14 points in the second quarter to keep the Fighting Irish in the game.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Blanca Quiñonez

A freshman forward for the UConn Huskies who scored 20 points, including 4 three-pointers, to lead the team to victory.

Sarah Strong

A star player for the UConn Huskies who struggled with her shooting early in the game.

Azzi Fudd

A star player for the UConn Huskies who struggled with her shooting early in the game.

Hannah Hidalgo

The star guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who scored 14 points in the second quarter to keep her team in the game.

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What’s next

UConn awaits the winner between South Carolina and TCU in Sunday's second Elite Eight matchup.

The takeaway

UConn's consistent presence in the Final Four, even with contributions from role players like Quiñonez, demonstrates the program's elite status in women's college basketball. The Huskies' ability to get key contributions from multiple players makes them a formidable opponent for any team.