Notre Dame’s Elite Eight Journey Fueled by Offseason Dedication to Niele Ivey
FORT WORTH, Texas — Notre Dame advanced to the Elite Eight after a 67-64 victory over Vanderbilt. The result marked the program’s first Elite Eight appearance since 2019. Niele Ivey reached this stage for the first time as a head coach.
Road to the Elite Eight
The Irish survived three unexpected tournament tests to reach this round. They upset No. 11 Fairfield, then beat No. 3 Ohio State on the road. Notre Dame followed with a Sweet 16 win over No. 2 Vanderbilt.
That Vanderbilt game ended 67-64. Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s leading scorer at about 27 points per game, managed 26 points. Blakes shot 7-of-26 from the field in that contest.
Defensive identity and tournament numbers
Defense has carried Notre Dame through the NCAA Tournament. The Irish forced 63 turnovers across their tournament games. Their defensive scheme aims to create chaos and pressure opposing ball handlers.
Hannah Hidalgo anchored that effort. She produced a 31-point, 11-rebound, 10-steal performance in the Sweet 16. Hidalgo also set the program’s NCAA Tournament steals record and later broke it again.
Legacy moments and alum connection
After Friday’s win, Hidalgo embraced Notre Dame legend Skylar Diggins. Diggins played in national title games in 2011 and 2012. Alumni support has amplified the team’s sense of history and responsibility.
Offseason decisions and roster building
The roster was remade in the offseason. Five players graduated and three transferred away. Only Hidalgo, KK Bransford, and Cassandre Prosper remained from the prior core.
Recruiting and transfers filled the gaps. Vanessa De Jesus arrived from Duke. Iyana Moore came from Vanderbilt. Malaya Cowles transferred from Wake Forest and Gisela Sanchez from Kansas State.
Key returnees and commitment
Cassandre Prosper chose to invest in team chemistry during the offseason. She skipped Canadian national team duty to help build cohesion. Prosper scored 15 points and helped contain Vanderbilt’s star in the Sweet 16.
Prosper also helped recruit newcomers. In a Zoom call, she told Ivey she wanted to be part of Ivey’s legacy. That commitment proved central to Notre Dame’s Elite Eight Journey.
Midseason adversity and the turning point
The Irish faced serious roster shortages in January. They had only six healthy scholarship players and went 6-6 during that stretch. The period included a 95-90 loss to Georgia Tech.
KK Bransford returned after missing last season with a foot injury. She had been sidelined from Dec. 12 through late January. Her comeback helped spark a surge.
Notre Dame won 12 of its last 14 games after Bransford’s return. The defense accelerated and the team gained momentum heading into March.
Coaching and program context
Niele Ivey has built this run on both recruiting and internal development. She won national championships previously as a player and as an assistant at Notre Dame. The current season has become a defining coaching moment.
Ivey also navigated transfer challenges. Notre Dame’s academic credit policies drive graduate-transfer recruiting. That reality shaped the roster Ivey assembled for this deep tournament run.
Looking ahead
The Irish face UConn in the Elite Eight. UConn handed Notre Dame a 38-point loss in January. Beating UConn would require another major upset.
Still, the team embraces the underdog role. Players call their run a blessing and proof of Offseason Dedication to Niele Ivey and the staff. Filmogaz.com will continue coverage as the tournament unfolds.
