CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's 5-foot-7 point guard, exemplifies relentless competitiveness on the court, showcasing both impressive scoring ability and aggressive defense. This drive stems from her “kill mindset” as she enters her senior season, following a standout career filled with accolades. After narrowly missing the Final Four last year, Hidalgo aims to propel the Fighting Irish further this season.
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As one of the top prospects for the WNBA, Hidalgo aspires to become Division I's career steals leader and is on track to rank among the top 10 all-time scorers in college basketball history. "I don't focus on the numbers ever," Hidalgo stated during the ACC Tipoff preseason media days. "I play every game like it's my last, and the numbers just come with how I play."
Throughout her college career spanning three seasons, Hidalgo has averaged 23.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 4.7 steals per game. She has consistently earned recognition as a first-team Associated Press All-American in her first two seasons and a second-team selection last year. Additionally, she has been named the ACC's defensive player of the year for three consecutive years, with a chance to join elite company as a three-time ACC player of the year.
If Hidalgo continues her performance from last year, she could finish her career with 3,369 points, ranking sixth in scoring, while also breaking the previous record for steals with 683, surpassing the 648 set by Chastadie Barrs from 2016-19. Niele Ivey, the seventh-year head coach of Notre Dame, emphasizes the importance of celebrating Hidalgo's achievements, calling her contributions to the team “supernatural.”
Last season, Hidalgo emerged as the clear leader for Notre Dame, especially after the transfer of fellow backcourt star Olivia Miles to TCU. She ranked third nationally in scoring with an average of 25.3 points and led the nation with 5.6 steals per game. Her remarkable performance includes setting a program record of 44 points and an NCAA record of 16 steals in a victory against Akron and nearly achieving a quadruple-double in the NCAA Sweet 16.
Louisville’s coach, Jeff Walz, has observed Hidalgo's impact on both her team and opponents. He noted her defensive prowess and ability to disrupt the opposing game plan. "If you get sloppy and you lose focus, then that’s when she takes advantage of things," he remarked.
Duke coach Kara Lawson, who coached Hidalgo in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, highlighted her competitive nature, pointing out that such traits are common among high-caliber players. Hidalgo expresses her desire to make every opponent’s day as difficult as possible and emphasizes the importance of her competitive spirit, encapsulated in her motto of “heart over height.” She acknowledges the pressures from expectations but focuses instead on her intrinsic motivations.
"I want everybody to see how competitive I am," she stated. "And I think they’ve already seen that. I don't really have much to prove to anybody anymore."