1996–97 Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team

Intercollegiate basketball season March 2026 stub June 2024 women's basketball 1996–97 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo.svg 150 Big East Conference Big East 5 15 31–7 17–1 Muffet McGraw 10th Kevin McGuff 1st Edmund P. Joyce Center NCAA tournament Final Four The 1996–97 Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Irish, led by tenth-year head coach Muffet McGraw, played their home games at Edmund P. Joyce Center as members of the Big East Conference. The Irish finished the season 31–7, 17–1 in Big East play to earn second-place in the regular season standings. They defeated Rutgers and Georgetown before losing to UConn in the Big East Women's Tournament championship. Notre Dame received an at-large bid as the No. 6 seed in the East (Columbia) region. They defeated Memphis and Texas to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. There they defeated Alabama and George Washington to advance to the first Final Four in program history. The Irish were beaten by Tennessee, the eventual National champion, 80–66.Tennessee Ends Notre Dame's Cinderella Story https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/colbask/women/articles/tennnd.htm The Washington Post March 29, 1997 June 20, 2024 Roster w 1996 Notre Dame Fighting Irish y y w Katryna Gaither 12 FC 6 4 Sr y w Beth Morgan 21 G 6 0 Sr Bloomington, IN Bloomington South y Beth Cunningham (basketball) w Niele Ivey 33 G 5 8 Fr St. Louis, MO Cor Jesu Academy y Muffet McGraw (Saint Joseph's) Kevin McGuff https://fightingirish.com/sports/wbball/roster/season/1996-97/ Schedule and results 1996-97 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings 1996 YES yes yes |- !colspan=9 style=Notre Dame Fighting Irish| Regular season Nov 17, 1996 yes yes 20 Iowa 6 61–50 2–0 Nov 19, 1996 yes yes 20 Tennessee 3 59–72 2–1 Nov 21, 1996 yes yes 20 1996 women NC State Wolfpack NC State 8 64–53 3–1 Feb 9, 1997 yes 15 1996 women Connecticut Huskies Connecticut 1 Gampel Pavilion Storrs, Connecticut 49–72 20–5 12–1 Feb 25, 1997 yes 14 1996 women West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia WVU Coliseum Morgantown, West Virginia 80–67 25–5 17–1 |- !colspan=9 style=Notre Dame Fighting Irish| Big East tournament Mar 1, 1997 yes yes 14 2 Rutgers 7 Gambel Pavilion Storrs, Connecticut Quarterfinals 86–58 26–5 Mar 3, 1997 yes yes 13 2 Georgetown Gambel Pavilion Storrs, Connecticut Semifinals 83–43 27–5 Mar 4, 1997 yes yes 13 2 Connecticut 1 1 Gambel Pavilion Storrs, Connecticut Championship game 68–77 27–6 |- !colspan=9 style=Notre Dame Fighting Irish| NCAA women's tournament Mar 14, 1997 yes yes 15 6 E 1996 women Memphis Tigers Memphis 11 E Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas First round 93–62 28–6 Mar 16, 1997 yes yes 15 6 E 1996 women Texas Longhorns Texas 14 3 E Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas Second round 86–83 29–6 Mar 22, 1997 yes yes 15 6 E 1996 women Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama 8 2 E Carolina Coliseum Columbia, South Carolina Regional Semifinal Sweet Sixteen 87–71 30–6 Mar 24, 1997 yes yes 15 6 E 1996 women George Washington Colonials George Washington 22 5 E Carolina Coliseum Columbia, South Carolina Regional Final Elite Eight 62–52Sixth-Seeded Irish Will Represent the East https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/25/sports/sixth-seeded-irish-will-represent-the-east.html The New York Times March 25, 1997 June 20, 2024 31–6 Mar 28, 1997 yes yes 15 6 E Tennessee 10 3 MW Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati, Ohio National Semifinal Final Four 66–80 31–7 AP Poll Eastern E East Region Source https://fightingirish.com/sports/wbball/schedule/season/1996-97/ 1996–97 Women's Basketball Schedule Notre Dame Athletics June 20, 2024 Rankings 1996–97 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings References Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball seasons Notre Dame Notre Dame Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Final Four seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish