Hoops with the Pope: Villanova, Notre Dame to open season in Rome, visit Vatican

Villanova and Notre Dame will begin their 2026 basketball seasons in Rome and visit Pope Leo XIV, the schools announced Friday.

The games, dubbed the “Eternal City Tip-Off,” will feature the men playing at 9:30 a.m. ET and the women at noon on Nov. 1. The games between the Catholic universities will mark an intersection between global sport and a shared mission in one of the world’s most historic cities, Villanova said in its release.

“From academic engagement and cultural immersion to shared worship and athletics, this journey offers a profound opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit,” said Rev. Peter M. Donohue, Villanova’s president.

The teams will begin their trip with a welcome program overlooking Rome and attend a shared Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before meeting with Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus. Vatican Museum tours will also be included in the excursions.

The Notre Dame women previously opened their 2023-24 season overseas in Paris, where they lost to South Carolina. The Irish, led by reigning ACC Player of the Year and All-American Hannah Hidalgo, are coming off their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019 and fifth consecutive Sweet 16. The men’s program, led by senior Braeden Shrewsberry, will play its first regular-season game outside the country.

The Wildcat men finished 24-9 in 2025-26 but lost their NCAA Tournament first-round game to Utah State after falling to Georgetown in the opening round of the Big East Tournament. The women, who finished 25-8, lost to UConn in the Big East title tilt and finished the season with a loss to Texas Tech in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.