SOUTH BEND, Ind. — For the 30th time in program history, Notre Dame women’s basketball is dancing.
On Sunday, the Irish learned they are one of four No. 3 seeds and will play in the Birmingham 3 Regional in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Purcell Pavilion will host first and second round games for four teams, including Notre Dame, and the Irish (26-5) will face off against No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (29-5) on Friday. Princeton (21-7) and Iowa State (22-11) are two 11 seeds that will play in a play-in game on Wednesday, and the winner will face No. 6 Michigan. Notre Dame has never faced Stephen F. Austin.
Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey has led the Irish to three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, but the program is looking to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2019, when Notre Dame was the national runner-up. Notre Dame’s 30th appearance in the NCAA Tournament is tied for the ninth-most all-time, and the program has a 73-27 record in the Big Dance. This is just the second time the Irish have been a No. 3 seed. The first was two years ago.
The Irish are 26-5 this season and earned a share of the ACC regular season title. Notre Dame has regular season double-digit wins over currently ranked No. 3 UConn, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Texas and No. 7 Duke.
Notre Dame and Stephen F. Austin will tip off on Friday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.