The UConn Huskies, with a perfect 18-0 record, are sharpening their swords for revenge. The Irish provided the Huskies their only double-digit loss of the 2024-25 season with a 79-68 upset, putting them on a three-game losing streak in the series for the first time since 2013. “It wasn’t a pretty game overall for us,” sophomore star Sarah Strong said with a grimace. “It was really ugly, so we’ll hopefully not make it ugly tomorrow.” 

The Irish also pulled off an upset the last time they played on the road at UConn in January 2024, dominating the Huskies 82-67. Cut to 2026, the Huskies are on the prowl again, as they are on an 18-game winning streak. Can the Fighting Irish be the Joker to Geno Auriemma and UConn again? Let’s look at how both teams fare up ahead of the game. 

How to watch Notre Dame Vs UConn?

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Time/date: 5 p.m., Monday

TV: FOX

Streaming: FOX Sports app

Radio: UConn Sports Network on FOX Sports 97.9

Notre Dame vs UConn: Injury Report

Notre Dame:

UConn Huskies

Notre Dame vs UConn: Predicted Lineups

Notre Dame

Malaya Cowles | Hannah Hidalgo | Cassandre Prosper | Vannessa de Jesus | Iyana Moore

UConn

Sarah Strong | Serah Williams | Ashlynn Shade | KK Arnold | Azzi Fudd

Notre Dame vs UConn: Match Preview and Prediction

UConn and Notre Dame are in different situations in their team building. UConn, arguably, is at its peak while Notre Dame is in a rebuilding season with a 12-5 record. The Fighting Irish are rebuilding with a new look squad and have suffered through some rough patches. They briefly dropped out of the AP Top 25 but returned after a 23-point win over North Carolina behind a 31-point performance by Hannah Hidalgo and a double-double from Cassandre Prosper.

But that did not last long as they are coming into this game after a 79-66 loss to Louisville. And No.1 UConn has been, well, UConn. They have decimated every opponent, including Villanova, 99-50 in the last game. 

Going up against a side that includes Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, the Irish are thoroughly outgunned. In the last game, they played with just 6 players for the entire 40 minutes, 5 of them playing over 37 minutes each. That included no substitutions in the second half. With the roster thin and tired, they realistically cannot keep up with the Huskies without a miraculous display from Hidalgo.

Hidalgo’s heroism is probably the only hope for Notre Dame. She is averaging 25 points, 5.6 steals, 5.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game and looks like she’s in a league of her own. Her match-up with Strong sets up another storyline within the game as both are vying for that National Player of the Year Award. Strong is averaging 18.7 points, 3.7 steals, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, and is arguably the best player in the country. 

Prediction: While Hidalgo might make things interesting, expect a blowout win for UConn on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. ESPN Analytics gives UConn a whopping 95.9% chance. The mood Strong is in, she could go off for her first 30+point game to reach 1000 career points (currently at 993).