Notre Dame Faces TCU in Thrilling Sweet 16 Showdown

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A highly anticipated face-off will take place Saturday as Notre Dame takes on TCU in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. With a history of competition and star players on both sides, this matchup promises to be thrilling.

Notre Dame (28-5), the No. 3 seed in the Birmingham 3 region, is looking to bounce back from an earlier defeat to TCU (33-3), which occurred during the Grand Cayman showcase last November. In that match, TCU upset Notre Dame with a score of 76-68, highlighted by Hailey Van Lith’s 21 points and seven assists. The Irish, led by coach Niele Ivey, are determined to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019 after three consecutive failed attempts.

On the opposing side, TCU enters the game with momentum, having clinched the Big 12 title and finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak. The Horned Frogs secured their place in the Sweet 16 after dominant performances that included a significant win against Fairleigh Dickinson in the tournament opener. Hailey Van Lith, who transferred from Louisville, has emerged as a key player, averaging 17.7 points and 5.5 assists per game.

“We’re fine with it being a dogfight every game,” Van Lith said. “We don’t hope that we win by 20. We’re OK with it being a close game.”

Notre Dame’s star players include Hannah Hidalgo, who leads the team with 24.1 points per game and has shown remarkable growth through the tournament. Olivia Miles complements her scoring with strong playmaking, contributing 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and nearly 6 assists per game. Together, they make up one of the most dynamic backcourt tandems in college basketball.

“We have that experience from the last game, and we’re eager to show our growth,” Miles shared, reflecting on their earlier loss to TCU. “It was definitely hard to watch, but it’s a learning experience.”

The Fighting Irish have demonstrated their offensive capability throughout the tournament, with performances including a standout game where they shot 50 percent from the field against Michigan. In contrast, TCU has produced jaw-dropping shooting statistics, particularly behind the arc, where they’ve maintained a 61 percent shooting rate.

For TCU, this Sweet 16 appearance marks a historic milestone, being the first time they have reached this stage in their 44 seasons of Division I basketball. The Horned Frogs look to build on their successful season and leverage their underdog status against a more experienced Notre Dame squad.

“We don’t care who’s on the opposite bench; we’re going to fight hard,” TCU guard Madison Conner stated. “We’re guaranteed 40 minutes, and we’ll battle for every single one of them.”

The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+, providing fans multiple ways to catch the action. As the match-up approaches, the tension and excitement continue to build, making for an unforgettable showdown.