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Notre Dame, Vanderbilt Battle in Sweet 16 Matchup
Two of the nation's top scorers go head-to-head with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.
Mar. 27, 2026 at 7:04pm
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The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 continues on Friday as No. 2 Vanderbilt takes on No. 6 Notre Dame in Fort Worth, Texas. This matchup features two of the country's best scorers in Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo's ability to force turnovers and score in transition will be key for the Irish, while the Commodores will need to find a way to limit her impact on the game.
Why it matters
This Sweet 16 showdown pits two talented teams against each other with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. Both Vanderbilt and Notre Dame have proven they can win at the highest level, and this game will come down to which team can best execute its game plan and limit the opposing star player.
The details
Notre Dame leans heavily on its defense, averaging over 13 steals per game, with Hidalgo accounting for nearly half of those. The Irish thrive on turning defense into offense, so Vanderbilt will need to take care of the ball and not let Hidalgo disrupt their flow. On the other end, Blakes and Aubrey Galvan will need to continue their strong tournament play to give the Commodores a chance at the upset.
- The Sweet 16 matchup tips off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 27 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The players
Hannah Hidalgo
The nation's leading steals leader, Hidalgo is the engine that makes the Notre Dame offense run. Her ability to create turnovers and score in transition will be crucial for the Irish.
Mikayla Blakes
Vanderbilt's leading scorer, Blakes will need to have a big game to keep the Commodores in contention. Her play, along with that of Aubrey Galvan, will be key for Vanderbilt.
What’s next
The winner of this Sweet 16 matchup will advance to the Elite Eight, one step closer to the national championship.
The takeaway
This game features two of the best teams and players in the country, setting the stage for an exciting Sweet 16 showdown. Whichever team can best execute its game plan and limit the opposing star player will likely come out on top and keep its national championship dreams alive.
