Hannah Hidalgo Returns to Notre Dame for Senior Season

Hannah Hidalgo just announced she's running it back for one more year at Notre Dame, and women's basketball fans have every reason to celebrate.

The junior guard posted a photo Thursday in her Fighting Irish uniform with a simple message: "Run It Back." Sources confirmed to ESPN that Hidalgo will finish her college career at Notre Dame before entering the 2027 WNBA draft as an expected lottery pick.

This season, Hidalgo put together one of the most electrifying performances in recent college basketball history. She set an NCAA single-season record with 202 steals while averaging 25.2 points per game, ranking third in Division I scoring.

Her stat sheet reads like a video game. Hidalgo scored 30 or more points ten times this season, including a jaw-dropping 44-point, 16-steal performance against Akron in November.

But numbers only tell part of the story. In March, she delivered a triple-double for the ages: 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists to lift sixth-seeded Notre Dame past second-seeded Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16.

The Fighting Irish also knocked off third-seeded Ohio State earlier in the tournament, with Hidalgo contributing 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals. These weren't just wins; they were statements from a player who elevated her entire team when it mattered most.

Notre Dame's season ended with a loss to top-seeded UConn in the Elite Eight. After that game, UConn coach Geno Auriemma delivered the ultimate compliment, calling Hidalgo the best point guard in women's college basketball.

Why This Inspires

Hidalgo could have declared for the WNBA draft and started earning professional paychecks. Instead, she chose growth over glory.

"There's so many areas of growth left for me on the court," she told ESPN after the UConn loss. She wants to work on creating space, finishing over taller defenders, and building strength for the physical demands of professional basketball.

Her decision reflects a refreshing perspective in modern college sports. Hidalgo earned every major defensive award this season, including the Naismith and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year honors, plus ACC Player of the Year.

Yet she sees room to improve. That mindset, that hunger to keep developing rather than rushing to the next level, sets an inspiring example for young athletes everywhere.

Notre Dame fans get another year to watch one of the most dynamic players in college basketball history. The rest of us get to witness what happens when talent meets humility and hard work.