Friday’s slate of NCAA women’s basketball games was filled with thrilling endings.
From Hannah Hidalgo’s dagger to the UConn Huskies prevailing, here are Friday’s standouts.
Ice in her Veins: Hannah Hidalgo’s Game-Winner Leads to No. 24 Notre Dame Upsetting No. 11 USC
A week after No. 24 Notre Dame lost to Michigan in a blowout, it bounced back with a win in a n nail-biter close game over No. 11 USC.
Tied at 59 a piece in the fourth quarter, junior guard Hannah Hidalgo made a midrange jumper to give the Fighting Irish the lead with 1.8 seconds left in the game. Her clutch shot ultimately put Notre Dame over the top, upsetting the Trojans in a thriller.
Hidalgo finished the night with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and five steals after being limited to just 12 points vs. Michigan. Additionally, she now has 55 career games with 20 or more points, the third most in program history.
Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey said of Hidalgo’s heroics in crunch time, “Big-time shot, big-time player.”
“After that wake up call vs. Michigan, we got back in the gym and we knew we had to turn some things around,” Hidalgo said, via On3 Sports. “We fine-tuned a lot of things. There is still a lot of work, but we know this is a game of runs.”
It is worth mentioning that Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper was in attendance at the Notre Dame vs. USC game. She captured Hidalgo’s game-winning shot and shared it on her Instagram story.
Here’s Kahleah Copper’s view of Hannah Hidalgo’s clutch basket in Notre Dame’s win over USC on her Instagram story. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/VdICg0IaeD
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) November 22, 2025
Near the end of the third quarter, the Trojans, who are without star JuJu Watkins, had an 11-point lead over the Fighting Irish. Everything changed in the fourth quarter when Notre Dame sparked a comeback to win the game with their adjustments.
“I can’t say enough about this team,” Ivey said, via On3 Sports. “I am so proud of the way we responded. Clearly, coming off a really, really tough loss. Got to work this week. They just stayed the course. Got after it. Super competitive this week. Really found that toughness that I know that we have.”
Azzi Fudd, UConn Huskies Take Down Michigan
The defending national champions, the UConn Huskies, defeated No. 6 Michigan, 72-69, at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Throughout the game, the Huskies led for most of the game, but the Wolverines gave them a challenge in the fourth quarter, keeping it relatively close until the final buzzer.
“Sometimes we play teams that are Top 10 teams, and we make it look like this is the easiest thing in the world to play a Top 10 team and just, you know, go out and win by 30,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said postgame, via CT Insider. “Michigan’s way too much like us. And I don’t like playing teams that are just like us. So, hopefully we won’t see another one of them for a while.”
Fifth-year guard Azzi Fudd led the Huskies with 31 points, five rebounds, an assist, two steals, and two blocks. To add to her amazing scoring performance, her teammate, sophomore forward Sarah Strong, recorded a double-double of 16 points and 20 rebounds.
With the returns of Fudd and Strong, along with the additions of Serah Williams and Blanca Quinonez, the Huskies are in good position to make a serious run at a repeat NCAA title.
“This might be one of the best teams that he’s had,” Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico said of Auriemma’s team, via CT Insider. “Sarah Strong is really a special, special player, and Azzi [Fudd] just doesn’t miss. So, they tested us, and we responded. We just ran out of time.”
Syla Swords’ Hot Shooting Gave Michigan a Chance
Sophomore guard Syla Swords led the Wolverines in scoring with 29 points while making eight 3-pointers and having a near double-double with nine rebounds.
Her hot shooting from distance gave Michigan a chance to hand UConn its first loss of the season, and although it did not go in their favor, they fought until the end.
“Those are two of the best shooters in the country playing tonight, you know, against each other, and they both put on quite a show,” Auriemma said of Fudd and Swords, via CT Insider. “And you know, it’s not easy for them to get those shots, but they seem to be able to make shots other people have a hard time making.”
Despite the loss, the Wolverines will be a team to watch come NCAA tournament time. Coming off a loss in last year’s NCAA tournament to Notre Dame, Michigan has the opportunity to be ready for a March run.
Both the Huskies and Wolverines will play another game in the Basketball Hall of Fame women’s showcase on Sunday, facing Utah and Syracuse, respectively.
