Hannah Hidalgo

Raised in Merchantville, New Jersey, Hidalgo played basketball for Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where she was coached by her father, Orlando.{{cite web |last1=Makauskas |first1=Caroline |title=New Jersey hoops star Hannah Hidalgo sets sights on state crown |url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/hannah-hidalgo-paul-vi-girls-basketball-player-countdown/ |publisher=Just Women's Sports |access-date=November 7, 2023 |date=October 31, 2022}} As a senior, she averaged 28.8 points, 7.3 steals, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, leading her team to the South Jersey Non-Public A final. Hidalgo was named Courier-Post Player of the Year for her third straight season and was selected as New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Josh |title=Paul VI's Hannah Hidalgo Girls Basketball Player of the Year again; All-South Jersey teams |url=https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/2023/03/15/hannah-hidalgo-girls-basketball-player-of-year-all-south-jersey/69985712007/ |website=Courier-Post |access-date=November 7, 2023 |date=March 15, 2023}} She finished as her school's all-time leading scorer, with 2,135 points.{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Josh |title=Paul VI basketball star Hannah Hidalgo wins Gatorade NJ Player of the Year |url=https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/2023/03/08/pvi-hannah-hidalgo-gatorade-new-jersey-girls-basketball-player-year/69982959007/ |website=Courier-Post |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=March 8, 2023}} Hidalgo played in the McDonald's All-American Game, sharing MVP honors with JuJu Watkins. She scored an event-record 26 points and had eight steals, which tied the record.{{cite web |last1=McGurk |first1=Tom |title=Paul VI's Hannah Hidalgo lovin' it with record effort at McDonald's All American Game |url=https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/2023/03/28/south-jersey-star-sets-scoring-record-at-mcdonalds-all-american-game/70058397007/ |website=Courier-Post |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=March 28, 2023}} Rated a five-star recruit and the number five player in her class by ESPN, she committed to play college basketball for Notre Dame over offers from Michigan, Stanford, Duke, Ohio State and UCF.{{cite web |last1=DiAmore |first1=Isabella |title=Girls' basketball recruiting: Paul VI star Hannah Hidalgo commits to Notre Dame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/paul-vis-star-hannah-hidalgo-commits-notre-dame-20221115.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=November 15, 2022}}

On November 6, 2023, Hidalgo made her college debut, scoring 31 points in a 100–71 loss to AP No. 6 South Carolina. It was the highest-scoring debut by a Notre Dame player since at least 1999.{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Eric |title=Hidalgo shines but Notre Dame WBB eclipsed by South Carolina in opener |url=https://notredame.rivals.com/news/hidalgo-shines-but-notre-dame-wbb-eclipsed-by-south-carolina-in-opener |publisher=Rivals |access-date=November 7, 2023 |date=November 6, 2023}} In her next game, on November 12, she posted 26 points, 12 steals, six rebounds and six assists in a 104–57 win over NJIT, matching the program single-game record for steals.{{cite web |last1=Neiburg |first1=Jeff |title=South Jersey's Hannah Hidalgo is showing no signs of slowing down at Notre Dame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/hannah-hidalgo-notre-dame-highlights-womens-basketball-njit-20231113.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=November 15, 2023 |date=November 13, 2023}} On December 21, Hidalgo recorded her first triple-double, with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals in an 84–47 win over Western Michigan.{{cite magazine |last1=Stires |first1=Sean |title=Hannah Hidalgo Notches Triple-Double In Notre Dame Win Over Western Michigan |url=https://www.si.com/college/notredame/basketball/hannah-hidalgo-notches-triple-double-in-notre-dame-womens-basketball-win-over-western-michigan-stires |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 6, 2024 |date=December 22, 2023}} On January 27, 2024, she had 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in an 82–67 win over AP No. 8 UConn, surpassing the program freshman single-game scoring record held by Michelle Marciniak since 1991.{{cite web |last1=Stopczynski |first1=Jena |title=Hannah Hidalgo history continues to be written |url=https://www.abc57.com/news/hannah-hidalgo-history-continues-to-be-written |publisher=WBND-LD |access-date=February 3, 2024 |date=January 30, 2024}} In her following game, she scored a career-high 35 points, along with eight assists and six steals, in an 85–48 win over Georgia Tech.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Anthony |title=Broken record: Hidalgo keeps making history for Notre Dame women's basketball |url=https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/womens-basketball/2024/02/02/notre-dame-womens-basketball-at-georgia-tech-hannah-hidalgo-sets-new-freshman-scoring-record/72400021007/ |publisher=NDInsider |access-date=February 3, 2024 |date=February 2, 2024}} On February 8, Hidalgo tallied 30 points and seven steals in a 73–66 loss to AP No. 15 Louisville, breaking the Notre Dame freshman scoring record.{{cite web |title=Hidalgo breaks Irish rookie scoring record in No. 12 Notre Dame's loss at No. 15 Louisville |url=https://www.wndu.com/2024/02/09/hidalgo-breaks-irish-rookie-scoring-record-no-12-notre-dames-loss-no-15-louisville/ |publisher=WNDU-TV |access-date=March 10, 2024 |date=February 8, 2024}} In her next game, she had 27 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals in a 98–94 win over Florida State in double overtime. She surpassed Skylar Diggins for the most steals in a season in program history.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Anthony |title=Notre Dame women's basketball survives Florida State upset bid in double overtime |url=https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/womens-basketball/2024/02/11/notre-dame-womens-basketball-at-florida-state-sunday-final-score-hannah-hidalgo-acc-box/72497670007/ |publisher=NDInsider |access-date=March 10, 2024 |date=February 11, 2024}}

On February 29, Hidalgo set the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) freshman scoring record while posting 23 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a 71–68 win over AP No. 5 Virginia Tech.{{cite web |title=Notre Dame upsets Virginia Tech as Hidalgo sets ACC freshman mark |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39626996/notre-dame-upsets-virginia-tech-hidalgo-acc-record |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 10, 2024 |date=February 29, 2024}} She earned first-team All-ACC honors and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.{{cite web |title=Hidalgo Named ACC Rookie And Defensive Player Of The Year |url=https://fightingirish.com/hidalgo-named-acc-rookie-and-defensive-player-of-the-year/ |publisher=Notre Dame Fighting Irish |access-date=March 10, 2024 |date=March 5, 2024}} Hidalgo helped Notre Dame win the 2024 ACC tournament, where she was named tournament MVP.{{cite web |title=Irish Topple Wolfpack, 55-51, For 2024 ACC Women’s Title |url=https://theacc.com/news/2024/3/10/womens-basketball-irish-topple-wolfpack-55-51-for-2024-acc-womens-title.aspx |publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference |access-date=February 22, 2024 |date=March 10, 2024}} She led her team to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA tournament, where she tied a season-low 10 points in a 70–65 loss to Oregon State. She was sidelined for four minutes when officials enforced a rule prohibiting jewelry during games, requiring her to remove her nose piercing, which she had worn throughout the season.{{cite web |last1=Adelson |first1=Andrea |title=ND's Hidalgo rips refs for forcing her to miss time to get nose ring out |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39834656/nd-hidalgo-rips-refs-forcing-miss-get-nose-ring-out |publisher=ESPN |access-date=February 22, 2024 |date=March 29, 2024}} As a freshman, Hidalgo averaged 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and a nation-leading 4.6 steals per game. She was named a first-team All-American by the AP, a second-team All-American by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches' All-American.{{cite web |last1=Stires |first1=Sean |title=Hannah Hidalgo Is Named First Team AP All-American |url=https://www.si.com/college/notredame/basketball/hannah-hidalgo-named-first-team-ap-all-american-notre-dame-womens-basketball-stires |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=March 20, 2024}} Hidalgo won the Dawn Staley Award, which honors the best Division I guard.{{cite web |last1=Hough |first1=Austin |title=Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo adds prestigious Dawn Staley Award to ever-growing resume |url=https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/womens-basketball/2024/04/05/notre-dame-freshman-hannah-hidalgo-dawn-staley-award-2024-ncaa-womens-basketball/73222914007/ |publisher=Notre Dame Insider |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=April 5, 2024}}

Hidalgo entered her sophomore season as a preseason AP All-American and the preseason ACC Player of the Year.{{cite web |title=Hidalgo Named Preseason AP All-American |url=https://fightingirish.com/hidalgo-named-preseason-ap-all-american/ |publisher=Notre Dame Fighting Irish |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=October 22, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Wise |first1=Bennett |title=Irish picked to win the ACC, Hidalgo selected as Preseason Player of the Year |url=https://wsbt.com/sports/content/irish-picked-to-win-the-acc-hidalgo-selected-as-preseason-player-of-the-year |publisher=WSBT-TV |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=October 15, 2024}} She was joined by Olivia Miles, who returned from injury, in the backcourt to form one of the best duos in the nation.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Deyscha |title=Pick Your Poison: Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles Cover SLAM 245 |url=https://www.slamonline.com/hannah-olivia-cover-story/ |website=Slam |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=January 29, 2025}} On November 23, 2024, she recorded 24 points and eight assists in a 74–61 win over AP No. 3 USC.{{cite web |last1=Merchant |first1=Sabreena |title=Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame overpower USC on the road in top-10 matchup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5942754/2024/11/23/notre-dame-usc-result-score-takeaways/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=November 23, 2024}} On December 5, Hidalgo posted 30 points and eight rebounds to help Notre Dame defeat AP No. 4 Texas, 80–70, in overtime.{{cite web |last1=Rallo |first1=Curt |title=Hidalgo scores 30 as No. 10 Notre Dame women beat No. 4 Texas 80-70 in OT |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-notre-dame-basketball-score-f6cf4a61e60474515e112c795f5a7e65 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=December 5, 2024}} In her next game, she became the fastest player in program history to reach 1,000 career points as part of a 24-point, 10-rebound effort in a 93–62 victory over Syracuse.{{cite web |title=Hidalgo Reaches 1000 Points in Record Time, Irish Beat Cuse, 93-62 |url=https://fightingirish.com/hidalgo-reaches-1000-points-in-record-time-irish-beat-cuse-93-62/ |publisher=Notre Dame Fighting Irish |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=December 8, 2024}} On December 12, Hidalgo tallied 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in a 79–68 win against AP No. 2 UConn.{{cite web |last1=Philippou |first1=Alexa |title=Notre Dame's Hidalgo is now the player of the year favorite |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/42942877/notre-dame-uconn-2024-hannah-hidalgo-player-year-paige-bueckers |publisher=ESPN |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=December 13, 2024}} In January 2025, she missed two games with an ankle injury.{{cite web |title=Hannah Hidalgo returns to lead No. 3 Notre Dame women past SMU, 88-64 |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/womens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401724604 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=January 19, 2025}} On February 2, Hidalgo scored a season-high 34 points in an 88–71 win over Louisville.{{cite web |last1=Bittenbender |first1=Steve |title=Hidalgo scores season-high 34 to help No. 3 Notre Dame beat Louisville 88-71 |url=https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-louisville-score-hidalgo-d5950f682b48d596835401afb7f71e3c |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 22, 2025 |date=February 2, 2025}}

Hidalgo played for the United States at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Hungary. She averaged 7.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game, helping her team win the gold medal. Hidalgo was named to the all-tournament team at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain after helping the United States win the gold medal. She averaged 10.7 points, 5.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game, breaking team single-game records in assists (13) and steals (8).{{cite web |title=Hidalgo wins gold, Prosper bronze at U19 World Cup |url=https://fightingirish.com/hidalgo-wins-gold-prosper-bronze-at-u19-world-cup/ |publisher=Notre Dame Fighting Irish |access-date=November 7, 2023 |date=July 23, 2023}} At the end of the year, she was named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the second teenager to win the award.{{cite web |last1=Pendergrass |first1=Nyala |title=Hannah Hidalgo Caps Sensational Year with 5-on-5 Female Athlete of the Year Honor |url=https://www.usab.com/news/2023/12/hannah-hidalgo-caps-sensational-year-with-5-on-5-female-athlete-of-the-year-honor |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=January 6, 2024 |date=December 7, 2023}}

On June 19, 2025, Johnson was named to team USA's roster for the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. During the tournament she averaged 12.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and won a gold medal.

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=Hannah Hidalgo NCAA Statistics}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Notre Dame

| 35 || 35 || 35.9 || .446 || .340 || .776 || 6.2 || 5.5 || bgcolor=#cfecec|4.6* || 0.1 || 3.4 || 22.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25

| style="text-align:left;"| Notre Dame

| 32||32||35.5||.463||.400||.856||5.0||3.6||3.7||0.2||2.7||23.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career

|67||67||35.6||.454||.371||.813||5.6||4.6||4.2||0.1||3.1||23.1

{{s-end}}

Hidalgo is openly Christian and was raised in the religion.{{cite web |title=Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Declares 'Christ is Everything' |url=https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/notre-dames-hannah-hidalgo-declares-christ-is-everything.html |work=Movie Guides |date=August 26, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2025}}{{cite news |first1=Mia |last1=Venkat |first2=Patrick |last2=Jarenwattananon|title=The queens of March Madness: Notre Dame's Freshman floor general Hannah Hidalgo |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/20/1239761005/the-queens-of-march-madness-notre-dames-freshman-floor-general-hannah-hidalgo |work=NPR |date=March 20, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2025}} In interviews, Hidalgo has stated that her faith deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2024, Hidalgo re-posted a clip on her Instagram story of a conversation between Don Lemon, an openly gay television journalist, and Candace Owens, a conservative political commentator that highlighted Owens' opinion that being in a gay relationship was a "sin" and she, "[didn't] believe marriage can be between two men.”{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Rosvoglou |title=College Basketball Star Hannah Hidalgo Shared Video Slamming Same-Sex Marriage |url=https://thespun.com/wnba/hannah-hidalgo-shared-video-of-candace-owens-slamming-same-sex-marriage |work=The Spun |date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2025}}{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Costello |title=Muffet McGraw talks Hannah Hidalgo off-court controversy ‘it was almost insulting to her teammates’ |url=https://www.sbnation.com/womens-ncaa-basketball/2025/1/16/24345062/muffet-mcgraw-talks-notre-dame-womens-basketball-hannah-hidalgo-anti-gay-social-media-post |work=SB Nation |date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=April 1, 2025}} Hidalgo later removed the post from her account.{{cite web |first=Cyd |last=Zeigler|title=Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo has still never explained the video she shared calling gay marriage a ‘sin’ |url=https://www.outsports.com/2025/3/21/24097546/hannah-hidalgo-candace-owens-gay-marriage-lgbtq/ |work=OutSports |date=March 21, 2025 |access-date=April 1, 2025}} In January 2025, former Notre Dame head coach, Muffet McGraw, called the post "almost insulting to her teammates, to everybody in the game of basketball. I was really disappointed that it came out that way. I was happy that she deleted it, but the damage I think was done before she deleted it.”

In April 2025, nine months after her reposting the clip of Candace Owens, in an essay written for The Players' Tribune, Hidalgo addressed this controversy and referred to the post as a "mistake" that "[gave] the wrong impression, [and] maybe even hurt people I care about."{{cite web |first=Hannah |last=Hidalgo |title=Created a Monster |url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/hannah-hidalgo-notre-dame-basketball-ncaa |work=The Players' Tribune |date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 5, 2025}} She went on to write, "I am not homophobic — I love all people, and believe we all deserve to exist authentically." However, at the time her essay was published, Hidalgo's Instagram highlights still featured posts and videos from accounts and pastors that are anti-LGBTQ.{{cite tweet|user=wbb_wins |date=April 5, 2025 |number=1908683026441069005 |title=Hannah Hidalgo I'm all for changing your ways...}}

In March 2025, ESPN+ announced a second season of their docuseries, Full Court Press would premiere in May 2025.{{cite press release|last=Cowan|first=Garrett|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/03/season-two-of-espn-original-series-full-court-press-featuring-hannah-hidalgo-flaujae-johnson-and-kiki-iriafen-to-premiere-may-3/ |title=Season Two of ESPN Original Series Full Court Press, Featuring Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, and Kiki Iriafen, to Premiere May 3 |agency=ESPN Press Room|date=March 30, 2025|accessdate=March 30, 2025}} The series (from Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions and Words & Pictures) followed Hidalgo, USC's Kiki Iriafen, and Louisiana State's Flau'jae Johnson throughout their 2024–25 NCAA basketball season and postseason.{{cite web |first=Claire |last=Watkins |title=ESPN College Basketball Series 'Full Court Press' Returns for Season 2 |url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/espn-college-basketball-series-full-court-press-returns-for-season-2-how-to-watch/ |work=Just Women's Sports |date=March 30, 2025|accessdate=March 30, 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://fightingirish.com/roster/hannah-hidalgo/ Notre Dame Fighting Irish bio]
• [https://www.usab.com/players/hannah-hidalgo USA Basketball bio]

{{USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year}}

{{McDonald's All-American Game Girls MVP}}

{{Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hidalgo, Hannah}}

Category:2005 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportswomen

Category:All-American college women's basketball players

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Camden County, New Jersey

Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans

Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball players

Category:Paul VI High School alumni

Category:People from Merchantville, New Jersey

Category:Point guards