FORT WORTH, Texas — Throughout their flawless 2025-26 season and impressive 54-game victory streak, the premier UConn squad often made success appear effortless. This included commanding 30-point triumphs, spectacular plays from standout athletes Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, and effortlessly dominating both conference matchups and Power 4 contenders, with merely a single contest concluding by fewer than ten points.
However, Sunday’s Elite Eight contest proved entirely different; the Huskies laboriously achieved a 70-52 win over the sixth-seeded Notre Dame team, ensuring their 25th journey to the Final Four and their 17th within the past 18 competitions.
UConn is scheduled to next face the victor of the No. 1 South Carolina versus No. 3 TCU match, vying for a position in the national championship final.
The Huskies’ usually potent offense faltered on Sunday, as Fudd and Strong performed below their customary levels. The Irish, despite having been defeated by UConn with a 38-point margin in January, showcased a performance befitting the occasion, with their star player Hannah Hidalgo spearheading the effort.
Both squads recognized that their previous encounter held no bearing. The Irish had triumphed in 10 of their last 11 contests, eliminating the No. 2 seed Vanderbilt to progress to their inaugural Elite Eight under coach Niele Ivey. Since then, the Huskies found themselves even more intensely scrutinized, with the prospect of another national championship and a perfect season temptingly close.
It became evident from the outset that the team capable of enduring the initial defensive struggle would secure their progression to the Final Four in Phoenix.
Strong and Fudd’s combined tally of 10 points in the initial half marked their lowest output as a pair in any first half throughout the entire season. Nevertheless, the Huskies received a boost from 12 first-quarter points contributed by freshman Blanca Quiñonez.
The Irish narrowed the gap to 24-20 halfway through the second period, prompting coach Geno Auriemma to request a timeout before the Huskies painstakingly established their initial 10-point advantage of the match at 30-20. They ultimately retreated to the locker room leading 32-25.
Notre Dame remained competitive during the third quarter until UConn garnered some impetus, concluding the period with a layup by Jana El Alfy and a 3-pointer from Strong, thereby establishing a permanent double-digit advantage.
Strong, a recipient of several national player of the year accolades, tallied 15 of her 21 points during the latter half, with Fudd contributing 9 of her 13 following the intermission. Quiñonez recorded the second 20-point performance of her nascent career.
This display marked Strong’s 31st career game scoring 20 points or more, placing her alongside program icon Breanna Stewart for the highest total achieved by a UConn athlete during their initial two seasons with the team over the past quarter-century.
Hidalgo of Notre Dame, who had previously achieved a triple-double featuring steals against Vandy, was prevented from scoring by UConn in the opening quarter and concluded the game with 22 points on 7-for-18 shooting.
The national semifinal matches are scheduled for April 3, with the national championship contest taking place on April 5.