The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play their first game of the 2026-27 NCAA season on November 1 when the team hosts Villanova. There is a lot to look forward to — especially since the game will also officially mark Hannah Hidalgo's final season at Notre Dame.
That's a reality that seems a little difficult to fully comprehend. It often seems, in the best way possible, that Hidalgo has been at Notre Dame for far longer than the seasons she's played so far. She's one of the most exciting players in the women's collegiate game, and brings an energy to each outing on the court that's nearly always unmatched.
But the fact of the matter is that Hidalgo, like many players before and after her, will very likely make the jump from college to the WNBA next spring. The bigger question will be about who drafts her — and right now, one team stands out more than the rest.
ESPN's mock draft was published this week, which is both entirely too early and delightfully right on time. While there's a lot to sift through and pick apart on that list, one of the more compelling predictions is that a) ESPN has Hidalgo being drafted as the No. 3 overall pick, and b) they have her heading to the Washington Mystics.
The suggestion that Hidalgo could be drafted third overall is justified and fair — she's only behind Madison Booker, who is at No. 2 overall, and JuJu Watkins, who many believe will be the No. 1 overall pick. It's also important to point out that we don't know exactly what order the draft will go in terms of the WNBA teams, but... the suggestion that Hidalgo could be drafted by the Mystics is a really, really fun one.
The Mystics already earned a reputation this season as being one of the most fun teams in the league. They're also the youngest, and if social media is anything to go by, they have no problem celebrating every square inch of that youth. Hidalgo is a high-energy player who brings a lot of power to the floor (and the ability to jump seemingly higher than she stands tall), and in that respect, would fit right in.
Practically speaking, the fit is niiiice: with Hidalgo on the floor and joining forces with Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen, the Mystics would spawn a three-headed defensive beast. Washington made it to the playoffs this season to the surprise of some; adding Hidalgo would only make a promising team even more of a threat.
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