live updates from NCAA Tournament
CT Insider • • general
Key Points:
- UConn women's basketball faces Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, with the winner advancing to the Final Four; UConn has dominated early rounds with decisive wins, while Notre Dame has surged as a No. 6 seed led by standout freshman Hannah Hidalgo.
- Hannah Hidalgo has been exceptional in the tournament, posting a 31-point triple-double with 10 steals against Vanderbilt and consistently disrupting UConn's defense, prompting coach Geno Auriemma to call timeouts to curb her impact.
- UConn's bench players, including Blanca Quiñonez and Azzi Fudd, have contributed significantly to maintaining the Huskies' lead, with Quiñonez leading all scorers with 14 points during the game.
- Notre Dame has improved markedly since early-season struggles, posting a strong 12-2 record since February and ranking 12th nationally in adjusted efficiency, while UConn remains a dominant force with a solid defensive and offensive performance.
- Off the court, Connecticut will lose its WNBA franchise as the Connecticut Sun was sold and will relocate to Houston by 2027, a move Geno Auriemma says leaves a void in the state's women's basketball landscape.
