College basketball is back and some of the brightest stars in the game are already showing off their skills. While the season just started, the early front-runners for the National Player of the Year award are already obvious. With JuJu Watkins out and unable to repeat, UCLA star Lauren Betts and UConn phenom Sarah Strong headline the list of early candidates. They ranked first and second in ESPN’s latest college player rankings.
Betts has had a stellar college career so far and started her junior season with a 23-0 record. Now, she is expected to further build on that success and be one of the top picks, if not the number one pick, in the next WNBA draft. She is one of the top players in the country and will undoubtedly make a case for herself. Strong, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on a phenomenal freshman season at UConn. She averaged 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game and often looked like the best player on the team despite playing with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. Strong may very well end up being the best player on the best team.
However, third-year guard Hannah Hidalgo could edge both out and take home the National Player of the Year award.
Hannah Hidalgo is primed to have her best season yet
Hannah Hidalgo is no stranger to the Player of the Year conversation after two seasons of impressive two-way play. Her third season at Notre Dame may be the year she finally takes home the hardware.
Hidalgo averaged 23.8 points on efficient shooting, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.7 steals in her second college season. She vastly improved her 3-point shot, going from 34% shooting on 4.2 attempts per game to 40% shooting on 4.8 shots.
Hidalgo’s third season promises to be even better. Olivia Miles transferred to TCU instead of going to the W, leaving Hidalgo as Notre Dame’s biggest star. She will have ample opportunities to establish herself as one of the leading scorers in the country and one of the top perimeter defenders.
Notre Dame’s roster underwent a lot of changes. Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King, and Sonia Citron went to the WNBA, and Miles and Kate Koval transferred. So, Hidalgo will have to do a lot of heavy lifting to keep her team competitive. If she can keep up or improve her numbers while also leading her team to some wins, she may very well finish the season as the National Player of the Year.