Notre Dame has advanced to the women’s Elite Eight, joining Michigan as the only teams to have not played in the regional finals a year ago.
For the other six teams in the Elite Eight, it’s like they never left.
Notre Dame’s Cinderella Run
Notre Dame, a perennial power just a few years ago, now qualifies as a Cinderella as a 6-seed.
The Fighting Irish played UConn, Michigan and Duke (twice) this season, losing all four of those games by an average of 23 points.
But the Irish have the hottest player left in the NCAA tournament in Hannah Hidalgo.
Elite Eight Ranking and UConn Challenge
Despite Hannah Hidalgo’s performance, Notre Dame is ranked last in the updated Elite Eight rankings.
The question is whether Hidalgo will be enough to pull off the upset of the tournament and beat No. 1 UConn.
UConn entered the NCAA tournament with the nation’s top-rated defense.
Against North Carolina, they played their worst offensive game of the season and scored 25 points below their season average, but still rolled past the Tar Heels.
UConn made just 4 of 20 3-pointers, but they got 18 steals and forced 24 turnovers.
UConn is one game away from a 25th Final Four and have not lost a regional final game since 2007.
UConn Awaits
Notre Dame will face UConn on Sunday.
The winner advances to the Final Four.