In a highly anticipated Elite Eight matchup, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to face the UConn Huskies once again, reigniting one of women's college basketball's most storied rivalries. This time, however, the narrative around the Irish is markedly different from their previous encounter earlier this season, signaling a significant shift in momentum and team confidence.
Notre Dame's junior star Hannah Hidalgo, who has been a central figure in the team's resurgence, reflected on their last meeting with UConn-a game that ended in a staggering 38-point loss for Notre Dame. That January contest, held in Storrs, was the first time in Hidalgo's career that her team had been so decisively defeated by the Huskies, a program long known for its dominance in women's basketball. Yet, Hidalgo believes that the team the Huskies saw then was not representative of the Notre Dame squad they face now.
"I feel like I can say that UConn hasn't seen the best Notre Dame," Hidalgo said. "I take joy in knowing that when they saw us the first time, it was not Notre Dame basketball. Now we're playing Notre Dame basketball to the best of our ability, and so I think it'll be a fun game." Her comments underscore the growth and development the Irish have undergone since that loss, a transformation fueled by both individual performances and improved team chemistry.
Hidalgo's history against UConn highlights her impact on the court. As a freshman, she delivered an impressive 34 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in a game against the Huskies. The following year, she nearly achieved a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. However, the January matchup saw a reversal of fortunes. Hidalgo struggled offensively, managing just 16 points on 5-for-15 shooting, reflecting not only her own challenges but also the broader difficulties Notre Dame faced against a physically imposing and experienced UConn team. The Irish roster had also experienced significant turnover in the offseason, leaving them relatively inexperienced compared to the seasoned Huskies.
Hidalgo acknowledged that fear and intimidation played roles in that earlier loss. "I think before when we played UConn, we played a little afraid," she said, noting the Huskies' physical style of play and the star-struck feeling many players had. "Being in a stage like that was different.... it was a lot of people's first time playing at UConn, against UConn. So now that we've seen it, we've been through it, I think it'll help us a lot." This newfound experience and resilience could prove crucial as the Irish prepare to challenge UConn on a big stage once more.
Notre Dame's head coach Niele Ivey, herself a former national champion with the Irish and a longtime assistant coach, is intimately familiar with the demands of facing UConn. She stressed the mental toughness required to compete against the Huskies, a team known for their ability to dominate from the opening tip. "It's a different type of game. It's a different type of mindset," Ivey said. "They can crush you from the beginning, so you have to have confidence for 40 minutes. You can't come into the game not having confidence, because they'll take it away right from the beginning."
Ivey believes the Irish now have the confidence and toughness to withstand UConn's intensity. "Everybody has that under their belt now. There's no surprise in what we're going to see tomorrow. It has to be 40 minutes of a lot of toughness and a lot of fight." Her remarks highlight the mental preparation and grit the team has developed throughout their recent run.
Since their defeat in January, Notre Dame has indeed turned a corner. They have won 10 of their last 11 games, with their only loss being a narrow two-point defeat to a strong Duke team that also secured a spot in the Elite Eight. This late-season surge has positioned the Irish as a formidable opponent, even though they lack the high-profile star power of some past Notre Dame teams. Instead, they have emphasized chemistry and collective effort, rallying around Hidalgo's leadership and versatility.
Hidalgo's performance in the NCAA tournament has been nothing short of remarkable. In a recent win, she recorded the second triple-double in NCAA tournament history that included steals, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists. This rare feat underscores her all-around impact on the game-not only scoring and facilitating but also disrupting opponents defensively.
UConn's coach Geno Auriemma, a legendary figure in women's basketball, praised Hidalgo's uniqueness and influence. He likened her to Lawrence Taylor, a former NFL defensive great, emphasizing her ability to cause chaos and disruption on the court. "She's just a unique player that comes along once in a lifetime, and she has the ability to disrupt and cause chaos like nobody I've ever seen," Auriemma said. "I think her team obviously feeds off of that."
Hidalgo's teammates also recognize her exceptional talents. Sophomore guard Kayleigh Heckel described Hidalgo as "super athletic, super fast," noting how difficult it is for opponents to keep up with her. "She does everything, she passes, she rebounds, she's a great defender, so it's kind of hard to play against a player like her," Heckel said. Such praise from both opponents and teammates highlights the respect Hidalgo commands on the court.
The rivalry between UConn and Notre Dame remains intense and significant despite changes over the years. UConn leads the all-time series 40-16, but Notre Dame holds the distinction of having the most NCAA tournament wins against the Huskies-five victories, all under former coach Muffet McGraw. The Irish are also the only program with a winning record against UConn in the NCAA tournament, a testament to the fierce competitiveness and high stakes that define their matchups.
Notre Dame freshman Olivia Fudd characterized the rivalry as "kind of like a bloodbath," noting the intensity and passion that come with facing UConn, especially in March. "Definitely every time we get to play them and then any time you're playing in March in Elite Eight, trying to get to the Final Four, it's an honor, it's a privilege, and every team is going to play their heart out," Fudd said.
For UConn, the stakes are exceptionally high. The Huskies are aiming for their 17th Final Four appearance in 18 tournaments and are pursuing an undefeated season along with back-to-back national championships. Their legacy of excellence sets a daunting challenge for the Irish, who enter the game as a No. 6 seed-a position from which few expected them to advance this far.
Notre Dame's coach Ivey embraces their underdog status, emphasizing the lack of pressure on her team. "We have nothing to lose," she said. "We have no pressure on us." Hidalgo echoed this sentiment, pointing out that many doubted their chances from the outset. "I think everybody counted us out, and everybody doubted us," she said. "And so it's like, 'Oh, why not us?'"
As the Irish prepare to face the Huskies in the Elite Eight, the matchup promises to be a thrilling contest between a dominant powerhouse and a resilient, improving team hungry to prove they belong among the nation's elite. With Hidalgo leading the charge and the team playing with newfound confidence and toughness, Notre Dame hopes to rewrite the narrative of their rivalry with UConn and continue their surprising postseason run. The game will not only test their skills but also their belief in themselves-a belief that has grown stronger with each victory and that could carry them into the Final Four for the first time in this season's tournament.