Catholic universities are making a significant impact in the 2026 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, with twelve programs—seven men’s and five women’s—competing at high levels this March.
The presence of these Catholic institutions highlights their strong basketball traditions, experienced coaching, and talented athletes. Their participation brings added excitement to the tournament brackets and showcases the depth of talent across both men’s and women’s competitions.
In the women’s tournament, Notre Dame enters as a six-seed with a 22-10 record, led by junior Hannah Hidalgo, a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award. The Fighting Irish face Fairfield University, which boasts its highest-ever seed (No. 11) after winning three consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles. Fairfield leads the nation in three-pointers per game and features MAAC Player of the Year Kaety L’Amoreaux. Other Catholic schools such as Holy Cross, Gonzaga University, and Villanova University also bring strong records and standout players to the field.
Villanova graduate student Kylee Watson reflected on her experiences at both Villanova and Notre Dame: “Something I’ve noticed at both schools is that we say the Lord’s Prayer before every game as a team,” Watson told OSV News. “It’s a really special moment where we take the time to connect with God pregame, and it’s cool that it’s a tradition at both schools.”
On the men’s side, Villanova returns with seven Final Four appearances and three national championships in its history. Gonzaga relies on West Coast Conference Player of the Year Graham Ike for leadership on a team known for rebounding strength and scoring margin. Santa Clara University makes its first appearance since 1996; St. John’s University returns as back-to-back Big East champions under coach Rick Pitino; St. Louis University features Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila; Siena University celebrates its seventh MAAC championship; while St. Mary’s College marks its fifth straight NCAA appearance.
The prominence of Catholic universities in this year’s tournaments underscores their ongoing influence in collegiate athletics and sets up several compelling matchups for fans throughout March Madness.
