Notre Dame women's basketball in Elite 8 thanks to core quartet

Niele Ivey has dubbed Cassandre Prosper, Hannah Hidalgo and KK Bransford Notre Dame women's basketball's core.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:03am

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The Notre Dame women's basketball team has made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, surpassing expectations and proving that team chemistry may be the most important factor in March Madness. The Irish's 'core' trio of Cassandre Prosper, Hannah Hidalgo and KK Bransford have led the way, with Hidalgo making history as the first player in a quarter-century to average 25-plus points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists and five-plus steals per game.

Why it matters

Notre Dame's unexpected run to the Elite Eight has defied preseason predictions and showcases the power of team unity and strong player-coach relationships, even in the face of adversity. The Irish's success highlights the importance of building a cohesive team culture, which can be just as crucial as individual talent in the high-stakes world of March Madness.

The details

The 6-seed Irish have been led by their 'core' trio of Cassandre Prosper, Hannah Hidalgo and KK Bransford, who were quickly branded as such by sixth-year head coach Niele Ivey. Hidalgo, the ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, has been one of the NCAA's best players this season, making history as the first player of the last quarter-century to average 25-plus points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists and five-plus steals per game. Prosper has also stepped up, winning ACC Most Improved Player while averaging 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Bransford has become the Irish's spark plug off the bench, scoring 10 points in a round of 32 upset win over 3-seed Ohio State.

  • Notre Dame made its first Elite Eight since 2019.
  • Hidalgo set an NCAA single-season record with 199 steals and counting.
  • Hidalgo also set an NCAA single-tournament record with 26 steals and counting.

The players

Hannah Hidalgo

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player and Defensive Player of the Year, who has been one of the NCAA's best players this season, making history as the first player of the last quarter-century to average 25-plus points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists and five-plus steals per game.

Cassandre Prosper

The ACC Most Improved Player, who is averaging 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while starting all 35 games in a 25-10 season.

KK Bransford

The Irish's spark plug off the bench, who scored 10 points in a round of 32 upset win over 3-seed Ohio State.

Niele Ivey

The sixth-year head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, who has won 71 of Notre Dame's 78 wins in the NCAA Tournament and is seeking her first Sweet Sixteen victory as a head coach.

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What they’re saying

“Those girls are my sisters; we have such an undeniable bond. Knowing how sad we were last year — lots of tears, lots of very disappointed faces — to see this with smiles on our faces is amazing.”

— KK Bransford, Senior

“We didn't do all this work just for it to be over right now. I was telling the girls, 'This is not our last game playing together. We're going to figure it out and win this game so we can be able to play a game together again.'”

— Hannah Hidalgo

“The biggest thing with coach Ivey is she's a great person. It's not all business for her. It's not all about wins and losses. It's really about the relationship that she builds with her players.”

— Cassandre Prosper

“She knows the game of basketball. She's been here at all levels. She's been a player, an assistant coach and now a head coach. We know that she knows what she's doing, so we put full trust and faith in her.”

— KK Bransford

“Their faith never wavered. They came in and gave me their all, and we just weathered the storm. It's a special group; we've come a long way.”

— Niele Ivey, Head Coach

What’s next

Heading into the Elite Eight vs. 1-seed and defending national champion UConn (37-0), Notre Dame has gone 13-2 since Feb. 1 and won 10 of its last 11 games. Considered a 27.5-point underdog according to DraftKings Sportsbook, beating the Huskies will be a nearly impossible feat.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's unexpected run to the Elite Eight, led by its 'core' trio of Cassandre Prosper, Hannah Hidalgo and KK Bransford, showcases the power of team chemistry and strong player-coach relationships in the high-stakes world of March Madness. Even if the Irish's season ends against UConn, their success this year should be considered a triumph, proving that cohesion and trust can be just as important as individual talent.