Hannah Hidalgo Leads Notre Dame in Sweet 16 Showdown Against TCU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The No. 3-seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face off against No. 2 TCU in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 29, at 1 p.m. ET. Hannah Hidalgo, a standout sophomore and the ACC Player of the Year, is poised to lead the Irish as they aim for a spot in the Elite Eight.

Hidalgo has been instrumental in the Fighting Irish’s impressive tournament run thus far, contributing significantly in both of their opening matches. She scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, and provided five assists in a commanding 106-54 victory over Stephen F. Austin in the first round. In the second round, she added 21 points, three assists, and two steals to help Notre Dame defeat Michigan, 76-55.

Throughout the season, Hidalgo has averaged 24.1 points per game on 47.3% shooting, along with 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.7 steals across 31 games. Her scoring average ranks third nationally, trailing only Florida State‘s Ta'Niya Latson (25.2 points) and Arkansas‘ Izzy Higginbottom (24.4 points).

Despite her youth—born on February 22, 2005—Hidalgo’s talent and determination have made her a key player in Notre Dame’s strategy. Not eligible for the WNBA draft until after her junior year, she remains focused on leading her team for the duration of the tournament.

Hidalgo’s journey to Notre Dame wasn’t without its challenges. She was highly sought after in high school, finishing her career at Paul VI High School in New Jersey with 2,135 points, despite disruptions from COVID-19. Her father, Orlando Hidalgo, was her coach, and she was named the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year in 2023.

Now, as the Fighting Irish prepare for a matchup against a formidable TCU team, Hidalgo’s performance will be critical. In their previous meeting during the Cayman Islands tournament, TCU edged out Notre Dame 76-68, with Hidalgo feeling the pressure as she was outperformed by TCU’s star, Hailey Van Lith, in the decisive moments of the game.

TCU has its own accolades, notably with Van Lith, who is averaging 17.7 points and ranks among the top players nationally. The stakes are high for both teams, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight, further intensifying the anticipation surrounding this game.

As the tournament progresses, Hidalgo and the Irish will look to reverse the outcome of their last encounter with the Horned Frogs and continue their pursuit of a national title. The game will air live on ABC, and Notre Dame fans are eager to see if their team can continue the momentum built from their first two-round victories.