Notre Dame women's basketball earned a 77-61 victory against Virginia Tech on Thursday. Hannah Hidalgo led the team to the big win, as she scored 30 points to go along with five assists, two rebounds and one steal. Hidalgo is establishing herself as one of the best players in all of women's college basketball. She believes Notre Dame can make a championship run as well, something she recently explained, via the ACC Network.
"We definitely are a national championship team," Hidalgo said. "We have the talent, we have the skill, we have the depth. I think it's just our defense being able to get stops... We’re trying to go all the way, not just win the ACC championship but also win a national championship."
Notre Dame continues to silence the doubters. They are ranked No. 3 overall in the nation, and it is becoming increasingly evident that they are indeed a legitimate contending team. There were questions early in the season after Notre Dame was upset by TCU. They have found their confidence, though, and Notre Dame currently holds an 18-2 record.
Hannah Hidalgo continues to lead Notre Dame women's basketball
Hidalgo, 19, continues to lead the Notre Dame women's basketball program. She is in the middle of a tremendous campaign. Hidalgo played well during the 2023-24 season, but she has reached a new level in 2024-25.
The Notre Dame star is currently averaging 25.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals per outing. Hidalgo is also shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc. She has been one of the most efficient scorers in the entire league.
Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins are often mentioned as the best women's college basketball players in today's game. Bueckers and Watkins are terrific players without question, but Hidalgo belongs in the conversation. If she continues to play at an elite level while leading Notre Dame, it will not be long before Hidalgo begins to receive more recognition as a true superstar.
Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame will look to earn another crucial victory on Sunday against Louisville. They will then play Stanford on Thursday. Although Notre Dame is playing well, they must continue to stay focused. Every game is especially important right now as the regular season winds down. Of course, earning the best possible ranking will give Notre Dame the best opportunity to accomplish their goal of winning a championship.