The women's Elite Eight features two compelling matchups Sunday as the Final Four field takes shape. Hannah Hidalgo leads Notre Dame's defensive charge against top-seeded UConn, while Duke looks to build on its dramatic buzzer-beater win over LSU against UCLA. ESPN's analysts break down both games from Phoenix.

UConn faces Notre Dame in a rematch of their 38-point January blowout, though the Irish have evolved since then. Notre Dame's seven-player rotation survived Vanderbilt behind Hidalgo's lockdown defense on Mikayla Blakes. UConn, meanwhile, carries the pressure of being undefeated defending champions after a slow start against North Carolina. Both teams' analysts predict a UConn victory, with margins ranging from 7 to 14 points.

Duke's upset bid against UCLA hinges on defensive pressure and sophomore Toby Fournier's continued dominance. The Blue Devils must counter UCLA's size advantage, particularly Lauren Betts in the paint, while winning the rebounding battle they lost to LSU. UCLA's slow starts could prove costly against Duke's veteran backcourt, though analysts favor the Bruins to advance to their second straight Final Four.