Notre Dame Women's Basketball Begins NCAA Tournament Run

Irish face Fairfield in first round, potential matchup with host Ohio State looms

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:59am

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The Notre Dame women's basketball team begins its 31st NCAA Tournament journey on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio as a 6 seed - their lowest seeding in the six-year Niele Ivey coaching era. The Irish, who are 26-4 all-time in NCAA first-round games, face 11 seed Fairfield in the opening round, with a potential second-round matchup against host and 3 seed Ohio State on the horizon.

Why it matters

Notre Dame is seeking its first Final Four appearance since 1997, when the Irish made a Cinderella run as a 6 seed. The team is also looking to bounce back after missing the tournament field in 2021. The Columbus venue holds special significance, as it's where the Irish won their most recent national title in 2018.

The details

Fairfield enters the tournament on an 11-game win streak, having shared the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season title. The Stags are a strong 3-point shooting team, averaging 11.4 made 3-pointers per game (10th nationally). Ohio State, led by sophomore guard Jolani Cambridge, is a high-scoring team but vulnerable on defense. If the Irish and Buckeyes advance, it would pit current Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey against her former coach at ND, Kevin McGuff, who is now the head coach at Ohio State.

  • The Notre Dame-Fairfield first-round game tips off on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. EDT.
  • The potential Notre Dame-Ohio State second-round matchup would take place on Monday, March 20.

The players

Niele Ivey

The head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, who is seeking her fifth straight Sweet 16 appearance.

Kevin McGuff

The head coach of the Ohio State women's basketball team, who previously served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame under Muffet McGraw.

Kaety L'Amoreaux

The MAAC Player of the Year and a 5-foot-6 junior guard for Fairfield, averaging 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Jolani Cambridge

A 5-7 sophomore guard for Ohio State, averaging 22.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Mikayla Blakes

The nation's leading scorer at 27.0 points per game, a 5-8 sophomore guard for Vanderbilt who could potentially face Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.

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What’s next

The winner of the Notre Dame-Fairfield game will likely face 2 seed Vanderbilt on March 27 or 28 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's NCAA Tournament path features some intriguing storylines, including a potential rematch with former assistant coach Kevin McGuff and Ohio State, as well as a possible Sweet 16 showdown with the nation's leading scorer, Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt. The Irish will need to overcome their rebounding weakness to make a deep run, but their experience and the venue's significance could provide a boost.