Notre Dame’s women’s basketball program is headed to the Bahamas for the 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, where the Fighting Irish will play on November 24 and again on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. The back‑to‑back games mark the second overseas excursion of the season, following a recent victory over Villanova in Rome, and they will face a field that includes Davidson, Florida and West Virginia.
The tournament’s schedule places the Irish against three distinct opponents, each bringing its own narrative. A potential meeting with West Virginia would rekindle a rivalry that dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s, a series in which Notre Dame holds a 19‑3 edge. The matchup also promises a clash of rankings, given West Virginia’s recent rise.
West Virginia enters the event as the 25th‑ranked team in ESPN’s Way‑Too‑Early Top 25 and has secured a streak of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. After capturing the Big 12 Tournament last year and earning a No. 5 seed in the national bracket, the Mountaineers return with leading scorer Gia Cooke and newcomer Skylar Forbes, acquired from Marquette via the transfer portal.
Florida, under first‑year head coach Tammi Reiss, who previously guided Rhode Island to the NCAA Tournament, will field a squad composed of ten new transfers, with Jade Weathersby the sole returning player. The Gators’ fresh roster adds intrigue to the competition, especially as they adapt to Reiss’s system.
Davidson, meanwhile, returns ten players from last season but will be without Charlize Dunn, the team’s top scorer who was selected 36th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft after posting 15.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The Wildcats will look to blend experience with fresh talent as they prepare for their lone tournament game.
Looking Ahead
With the tournament’s Thanksgiving slot providing a national spotlight, the games could influence early Top 25 discussions and set the tone for the Fighting Irish’s campaign. Fans will be watching closely as new faces such as Gia Cooke and Skylar Forbes make their debut, while veteran leaders aim to preserve Notre Dame’s strong historical record against West Virginia.