Notre Dame women's basketball will face Stephen F. Austin to open March Madness. Bracket update, game info
There was no surprise Notre Dame women's basketball would be hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Late season struggles dropped the Fighting Irish to a No. 3 seed, however.
Notre Dame (26-5) will open with No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin (29-5) in a first-round game Friday at Purcell Pavilion. The Ladyjacks won the Southland Conference Tournament to punch their ticket to March Madness.
The opposite side of the bracket features No. 6 Michigan (22-10) against an opponent to be determined in a First Four game. Iowa State (22-11) will face Princeton (21-7) on Wednesday in South Bend, with the winner earning an No. 11 seed and a chance to face the Wolverines.
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Notre Dame had reached No. 1 in the polls just three weeks ago, but losing three of its final five games led to the Irish sliding down in the rankings. The Irish hope the time off allows them to reset as they pursue a third national championship in program history.
Game times for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday's second round will be announced later.
Why Notre Dame women's basketball is a No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament
The Irish falling to a No. 3 see was one of the bigger surprises of the bracket reveal. Most experts had Notre Dame slated to be a No. 2 seed.
The NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Committee Chair, Derita Dawkins, explained how the Irish ended up a three seed on ESPN's broadcast of the bracket show Sunday night.
WATCH: NCAA D1 women's basketball committee chair Derita Dawkins explains the "interaction effect" that saw Notre Dame women's basketball fall to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament pic.twitter.com/WJmCTg0BYk
— Austin Hough (@AustinRHough) March 17, 2025
"It was an interaction effect," Dawkins said. "It wasn't just what happened with Notre Dame, in terms of them losing three of five down the stretch. But it was also the teams that came out ahead of them did in their conference tournaments."
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who will Notre Dame women's basketball play in March Madness? NCAA bracket update
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