Villanova, Notre Dame to Open 2026-27 Basketball Season in Rome

The games will take place in front of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alum.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 10:15am

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Villanova and Notre Dame are finalizing an agreement to open the 2026-27 basketball season with a men's and women's doubleheader in Rome. The games will be played on November 1, one day before the official start of the season, with special clearance from the NCAA. Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alum, is expected to attend the event.

Why it matters

This matchup between two prominent Catholic universities is a unique opportunity to showcase college basketball on an international stage, especially with the involvement of the Pope, who is a Villanova alumnus. The game will also rekindle a rivalry between the two schools, who were previously in the Big East conference together.

The details

The games will be played at the 3,500-seat Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome and will air on Fox, leading into the network's NFL coverage that Sunday. This will mark the second time in the past four seasons that Notre Dame's women's basketball team has opened a season on European soil, after playing in Paris in 2023.

  • The games will take place on November 1, 2026, one day before the official start of the 2026-27 basketball season.
  • Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus, is expected to attend the event.

The players

Villanova

A Catholic university and one of the most accomplished college basketball programs of the past 50 years, with three national championships, including titles in 2016 and 2018.

Notre Dame

A Catholic university with a decorated women's basketball program, including two national championships and five Final Four appearances, though the team is struggling this season with a 15-9 record.

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope, who is a Villanova alumnus, having graduated from the university in 1977 with a degree in mathematics.

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What’s next

The schools are still finalizing the agreement to open the 2026-27 season with this doubleheader in Rome.

The takeaway

This unique matchup between two prominent Catholic universities, with the involvement of the Pope, who is a Villanova alumnus, is an exciting opportunity to showcase college basketball on an international stage and rekindle a rivalry between the two schools.