INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Notre Dame senior guard Hannah Hidalgo is picking up right where she left off, making an early statement to begin the 2026–27 women’s college basketball season.

The Merchantville, New Jersey native, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, continues to make her mark as one of college basketball’s standout guards while representing the growing presence of Latina athletes in women’s sports.

Through the Fighting Irish’s first two games, Hidalgo, listed at five-seven, has showcased her scoring ability and defensive intensity, helping No. 13 ranked Notre Dame open the season with back-to-back victories.

first bucket of hannah's senior season😮‍💨

📺 FS1#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/bIAWF9lKSm

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) November 1, 2026

Tipping off the regular season and her senior campaign earlier this month in Rome, Italy, Hidalgo and Notre Dame cruised to a 99–75 victory over Villanova before defeating Stonehill 123–40 last Friday.

During the Fighting Irish’s season opener at Palazzo dello Sport located in Piazza Apollodoro, Rome, Italy, Hidalgo recorded 32 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals. 

Against Stonehill, she finished with 27 points, six rebounds, two assists and 10 steals.

HANNAH HIDALGO WITH THE SNATCH AND SWISH 🤯🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 ACCNX / @ndwbb pic.twitter.com/WF5UpOYJ0k

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) November 7, 2026

Her performances helped lead Notre Dame to a 2–0 start, continuing to put her Latina and New Jersey roots in the spotlight.

Before arriving in South Bend, Hidalgo was a rising star in New Jersey, attending Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, where she played under her father, Orlando Hidalgo.

During her senior season, she averaged 28.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 steals and 5.1 assists per game. Her accomplishments earned her New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2023.

Thank you @Gatorade for Honoring me with the prestigious Gatorade Player of the Year Award for NJ. ( God is so good) Proverbs 3:5-6 🙌🏽☝🏼 pic.twitter.com/bMXHCkv4ei

— Hannah Hidalgo (@HannahHidalgo) March 8, 2023

That year, Hidalgo also participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game, where she was named co-MVP alongside University of Southern California standout JuJu Watkins.

Hidalgo’s competitive nature didn’t begin at Notre Dame, but rather developed years earlier under the guidance of her father, who introduced her to basketball at a young age.

Growing up, Hidalgo competed against boys and developed a determination to win that would eventually become a defining part of her game.

“I hate losing more than I love winning,” Hidalgo told Andscape in a previous interview. That mentality has followed her throughout her collegiate career as her father Orlando claims, “That’s what makes her a fighter. That’s what makes her wanna strive and play hard and never give up.”

in case you forgot, here’s your reminder.#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/LVzaaT7uBb

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) August 27, 2026

Since arriving at Notre Dame in 2023, Hidalgo has continued to build on her success, establishing herself as one of the nation’s top guards.

During her freshman season, she earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Her dominance continued into her sophomore and junior seasons, when she was named both ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive years.

When you win so many awards the commish has to help out 😂

Hannah Hidalgo is the ONLY player in ACC history to win Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pEJrC3XTHq

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 5, 2026

During the 2025–26 season, Hidalgo—winning the Nancy Lieberman Award and Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year among many other honors—averaged 25.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 5.6 steals per game.

She also made history against Akron in November of 2025, recording 44 points and an NCAA Division I single-game record of 16 steals which became an ESPY nominee for “Best Single-Game Performance.”

While Hidalgo has established herself as a scoring threat, her defensive intensity continues to set her apart. Her ability to create turnovers and contribute on both ends of the court has played a significant role in her success with the Fighting Irish.

☘️ 44 PTS
☘️ 16 STL
☘️ 9 REB
☘️ 4 AST

Hannah Hidalgo put on a show against Akron 🍿@ndwbb | #ACCNTakeover pic.twitter.com/t677ylOOkt

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) July 3, 2026

Her impact also extends beyond the stat sheet.

Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey has recognized Hidalgo’s growth and development as a leader.

“The biggest separator for her was her maturity,” Ivey told ESPN in March 2026.

While she now looks to lead her team to the top of the mountain the next two months and for 2027, with Hidalgo’s production playing a key factor, Ivey also said: “She’s just really special, and we have a special bond. I’m blessed that God allowed me to be a part of her journey cause she’s amazing.”

This moment between Hannah Hidalgo and Coach Ivey 🥹 @ndwbb pic.twitter.com/UoVvCFAgzq

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 27, 2026

As Hidalgo enters her senior season, her experience and leadership will remain important for a Fighting Irish team looking to build on last year’s success.

Beyond her accomplishments on the basketball court, Hidalgo is also embracing her Puerto Rican heritage.

The daughter of a Puerto Rican father and an African American mother Tamara, Hidalgo spoke openly about her journey to connect with her cultural roots on “In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams” which is available on YouTube.

For Hidalgo, her journey is about more than what she accomplishes on the court.

As her national profile continues to grow, so does the visibility of a young Latina athlete representing both her parents heritage and the future of women’s basketball.

Hidalgo’s college basketball journey began in Paris, France, where she scored 31 points in her Notre Dame debut in 2023. Three years later, the proud Boricua and Jersey native opened her senior season in Rome, Italy, with a 32-point performance against Villanova.

As Hidalgo continues her final season with the Fighting Irish, she looks to build on an already decorated career while representing her Puerto Rican roots.

Lanie Gatson is a journalist at Latino Sports as well as a reporter for Star City News. You can follow her on Instagram @LanieGatson and contact her at laniegatson@gmail.com. 

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