Fairfield Women's Basketball Faces Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament

Stags seek first-ever win over Fighting Irish in March Madness matchup

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:34pm

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The Fairfield University women's basketball team is set to take on No. 6 seed Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This will be the Stags' eighth tournament appearance, but they have never faced the Fighting Irish before, with the last meeting between the two Catholic schools coming in 1987. Fairfield enters the game riding an 11-game winning streak, while Notre Dame has won 9 of its last 11 contests.

Why it matters

This is a historic matchup between two storied women's basketball programs, with Fairfield looking to make its mark on the national stage against a perennial powerhouse in Notre Dame. The Stags have been one of the top mid-major teams in the country this season, led by MAAC Player of the Year Kaety L'Amoreaux, and they will be seeking their first-ever NCAA Tournament win against the highly-ranked Fighting Irish.

The details

Fairfield, the No. 11 seed, will take on No. 6 seed Notre Dame on Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. ET at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be televised on ESPN. Fairfield is led by MAAC Player of the Year Kaety L'Amoreaux, who averages 17.6 points per game, while Notre Dame is paced by ACC Player of the Year and national steals leader Hannah Hidalgo, who puts up 25.2 points per contest. The Stags enter the tournament on an 11-game winning streak, while the Fighting Irish have won 9 of their last 11 games.

  • Fairfield and Notre Dame last played each other in December 1987, with the Fighting Irish winning 75-62.
  • The Stags' last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2024.
  • This year's tournament game is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. ET.

The players

Kaety L'Amoreaux

Fairfield's MAAC Player of the Year, averaging 17.6 points per game.

Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame's ACC Player of the Year and national steals leader, averaging 25.2 points per game.

Cassandre Prosper

Notre Dame's ACC Most Improved Player, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to face a tough, experienced Notre Dame team, but we're confident in our abilities and excited for the challenge.”

— Kaety L'Amoreaux, Fairfield University Women's Basketball Player

“This is a great opportunity for our program to showcase our talent on the national stage. We're looking forward to a competitive game against Fairfield.”

— Niele Ivey, Notre Dame Women's Basketball Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Fairfield-Notre Dame matchup will advance to face the winner of the No. 3 seed Ohio State vs. No. 14 seed Samford game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round NCAA Tournament clash between Fairfield and Notre Dame represents a chance for the Stags to make a statement against a national powerhouse program. Fairfield's strong season and tournament experience make them a dangerous opponent, and a potential upset would be a landmark moment for the mid-major program.