Hannah Hidalgo Stuns in Record-Breaking Notre Dame Debut: Must-See Highlights & Fan Reactions

Hannah Hidalgo’s rise from breakout freshman to face of Notre Dame women’s basketball shows no signs of slowing down. The dynamic 5-foot-6 guard was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year this week, becoming the first Fighting Irish underclassman to earn the honor since Skylar Diggins in 2011. The league’s blue-ribbon media panel cast its ballots after fall practice opened in South Bend, and Hidalgo was the clear choice following a historic rookie campaign that saw her sweep ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors last March. A STAT-SHEET STUFFER Hidalgo stuffed every column of the box score in 2024-25, averaging 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor. Her 3.7 thefts per game led all Power-Six players and powered Notre Dame to a 28-6 record and an NCAA Sweet 16 berth. National pundits now slot the Fighting Irish at No. 15 in the AP preseason poll, the program’s highest ranking since 2019. PROGRAM-CHANGING IMPACT Head coach Niele Ivey credits Hidalgo’s relentless motor for lifting practice intensity. “Hannah competes on every possession, whether it’s June workouts or March Madness,” Ivey told local media during ACC Tipoff. Opponents feel that pulse too: according to Synergy Sports, Notre Dame scored 1.11 points per possession in transition last year, ranking fourth nationally, a stat fueled largely by Hidalgo’s on-ball pressure and coast-to-coast bursts. SUMMER GOLD & NIL MOMENTUM The New Jersey native sharpened her game overseas, capturing gold with Team USA at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup and landing on the All-Star Five after averaging 17.2 points in the tournament. Off the court, her endorsement portfolio continues to expand; reports estimate her NIL valuation near $1 million thanks to partnerships with Red Bull, New Era and VKTRY insoles, among others, making her one of college basketball’s most marketable athletes. WHAT’S NEXT Notre Dame opens the 2025-26 season on Nov. 6 against Tennessee in the Women’s Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. A marquee non-conference slate that also features UConn and defending champion South Carolina will give Hidalgo an early stage to solidify her Wooden Award candidacy. KEYWORDS FOR SEARCH VISIBILITY Hannah Hidalgo, ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Notre Dame women’s basketball, 2025-26 season, Fighting Irish, Niele Ivey, Wooden Award watch list, NIL valuation, FIBA AmeriCup gold, South Bend.