Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, who was a Naismith and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year this season in women's basketball, will return to the Fighting Irish for her senior season.
Hidalgo posted a photo of herself on social media Thursday wearing her Notre Dame uniform with the message “Run It Back.”
Sources confirmed to ESPN that Hidalgo has no intention of transferring and will finish his college career with the Irish.
She is not eligible for the WNBA draft this season, but is expected to be a lottery pick in 2027. Hidalgo was the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year this season.
Hidalgo set an NCAA single-season record for steals as a junior with 202. She led Division I in steals per game (5.6) and was third in scoring average (25.2). He scored 30 or more points 10 times this season, including a career-high 44 on Nov. 12 in an 85-58 win over Akron. He also had a career-high 16 steals in that game.
Hidalgo had a triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals) along with seven assists in No. 6 seed Notre Dame's 67-64 loss to No. 2 Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16 of the Fort Worth Regional on March 27. Notre Dame had also defeated No. 3 seed Ohio State 83-73 in the second round, behind 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals from Hidalgo.
The Irish saw their season end with a 70-52 Elite Eight loss to No. 1 UConn. Hidalgo scored 22 points and 11 rebounds. After that game, UConn coach Geno Auriemma referred to Hidalgo as the best point guard in women's college basketball.
“And I have a lot of areas of growth left on the court,” Hidalgo told ESPN after the loss to UConn, talking about his plans for his final year of college. “I just work on creating space, being able to finish on taller players. And then in the WNBA, everyone is bigger, stronger, more athletic, more talented. So, it's about improving my game, just trying to prepare as much as I can. Develop my muscles, get stronger.”
