How To Watch Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball in 2025
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Junior Sports Writer Alex Vejar, who has covered sports for more than 10 years of covering sports.
A closer look at Notre Dame women’s basketball
A familiar feeling of disappointment ended last season for Notre Dame. Despite winning the ACC regular-season title, the Fighting Irish bowed out in the Sweet 16, falling short of Final Four expectations. What followed was a massive offseason exodus that saw the entire core around superstar Hannah Hidalgo depart, with Olivia Miles shockingly hitting the transfer portal and the rest of the starting lineup graduating.
The 2025-26 season rests squarely on the electrifying shoulders of Hidalgo, a junior. She’s the lone returning starter, the undisputed leader, and she’ll be asked to carry an immense load. Surrounding her is a brand-new supporting cast built almost entirely through the transfer portal, featuring experienced guards Vanessa de Jesus (Duke) and Iyana Moore (Vanderbilt), along with forwards Malaya Cowles (Wake Forest) and Gisela Sanchez (Kansas State). Fan expectations are dramatically lowered; this year is about finding chemistry and seeing if Hidalgo can elevate a new group to competitiveness.
Despite the turnover, the national spotlight remains, meaning the Irish will still feature prominently across a wide array of channels: NBC, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, The CW, and the ACC Network (ACCN). Games not on those networks will stream via ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) or ESPN+. My goal is to navigate this complex broadcast landscape and clearly explain how to watch Notre Dame women’s basketball this season.
2025–2026 Notre Dame women’s basketball TV schedule
The season tips off at Purcell Pavilion on November 5 against Fairleigh Dickinson. The schedule quickly ramps up with major non-conference tests designed to challenge this new roster. The Fighting Irish face Michigan (Nov. 15) and USC (Nov. 21) early on. The annual rivalry game against UConn (Jan. 19) gets a massive spotlight on FOX.
Conference play features tough matchups against North Carolina (Jan. 11) and NC State (Feb. 15), along with two crucial battles against Louisville (Jan. 15 and Mar. 1). The ACC Tournament shifts to Duluth, Ga., from March 4–8.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | Wednesday, Nov. 5 | 7:00 p.m. | ACC Extra |
| Chicago State Cougars | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | ACC Extra |
| Akron Zips | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 7:00 p.m. | ACC Extra |
| At Michigan (#13) | Saturday, Nov. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | NBC |
| USC (#18) | Friday, Nov. 21 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Central Michigan Chippewas | Monday, Nov. 24 | 9:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| At Ole Miss (#12) | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| At Florida State Seminoles | Sunday, Dec. 7 | TBD | TBA |
| Morehead State Eagles | Thursday, Dec. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At James Madison Dukes | Sunday, Dec. 14 | TBD | TBA |
| Bellarmine Knights | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 5:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | Monday, Dec. 29 | 6:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| At Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 4:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| At Duke (#7) | Sunday, Jan. 4 | TBD | ESPN, ACC Network |
| Boston College Eagles | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 6:00 p.m. | TBA |
| North Carolina (#11) | Sunday, Jan. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Louisville (#20) | Thursday, Jan. 15 | 6:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| At UConn (#1) | Monday, Jan. 19 | 5:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Miami Hurricanes | Thursday, Jan. 22 | 6:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| Clemson Tigers | Sunday, Jan. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At California Golden Bears | Thursday, Jan. 29 | 10:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Stanford Cardinal | Sunday, Feb. 1 | TBD | TBA |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Virginia Cavaliers | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 2:00 p.m. | TBA |
| NC State (#9) | Sunday, Feb. 15 | TBD | ESPN |
| At Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Thursday, Feb. 19 | 6:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At SMU Mustangs | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 6:00 p.m. | ACC Network |
| Syracuse Orange | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 7:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Louisville (#20) | Sunday, March 1 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching Notre Dame women’s basketball
Following the Fighting Irish this season requires navigating a broad mix of channels. You’ll need access to national broadcast networks, major cable channels, and The CW. Digital-only games will stream on ACCNX and occasionally ESPN+.
Because the schedule is so spread out, a comprehensive live TV streaming service is your most reliable bet. Hulu + Live TV is an excellent choice because it includes your local NBC and FOX affiliates, the full ESPN suite, The CW, and the ACC Network in its standard package.
ACCNX and ESPN+ are available through ESPN Unlimited. Hulu + Live TV provides access to that service via the ESPN app. Just log in with your Hulu credentials and you’re all set.
How to watch Notre Dame women’s basketball FAQ
Where can I watch Notre Dame women's basketball for free?
Games airing on national broadcast networks NBC (vs. Michigan) and FOX (at UConn) can be watched for free using an over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna. Any games potentially airing on ABC or The CW would also be accessible this way.
How can I stream Notre Dame basketball without cable?
A live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV is the best solution. The package includes NBC, FOX, ESPN channels, The CW, and critically, the ACC Network. Signing into the ESPN app with your Hulu credentials will also get you access to ACCNX and ESPN+.
Can I watch Notre Dame basketball on ESPN+?
Yes, ESPN+ is essential for watching the Notre Dame full schedule. Many games that aren't shown on the linear ESPN networks or ACC Network are streamed exclusively on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) or ESPN+. An ESPN Select subscription comes with all ESPN+ content. ACCNX is available through the ESPN app with a qualifying TV provider login.
What channels broadcast Notre Dame women's basketball?
The majority of Fighting Irish games are split between the ACC Network (ACCN) and ESPN/ESPN2 as part of the ACC media deal. Additionally, you will see highly anticipated non-conference games televised nationally on FOX and NBC.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com editorial team cross-referenced the official Notre Dame women’s basketball schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, we selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
