An exclusive interview with Notre Dame women's basketball star Hannah Hidalgo

The GIST: Notre Dame women’s basketball star and preseason All-American Hannah Hidalgo made waves last season thanks to her lockdown defense and 22.6 points per game on average.

• Now back for her sophomore campaign, Hidalgo shares her insights on teammate Olivia Miles, name, image, and likeness (NIL), and the future of women’s basketball in an exclusive interview with The GIST. Hoop yeah.

Q: Notre Dame’s breakout star from the 2022–23 season, guard Olivia Miles, is finally healthy again after missing last season with an ACL tear. With her back in the mix, what should fans expect from the Irish this year?

A: After being on the sideline [last season], her mindset is just so different. We know her skill level and what she can do on the court, but her mindset just makes her that much [better]…. I just think it's going to make us that much more dangerous. Fans should be ready and excited to see how quick we are, how well we can shoot now, and how well we play together..

• Look out for Olivia and me in the backcourt. I think we have the scariest backcourt in women's college basketball right now. With my speed, my defense, and Olivia's offensive game, the way she's able to pass and facilitate, it's just going to be such a scary dynamic. I think it's the best dynamic in women's college basketball right now.

Q: You had so much success last year — a first-team All-American, ACC Tournament MVP, a Sweet 16 run. What does success look like for you this year? What are you looking forward to most?

A: I think the biggest goal in everyone's mindset is to get a national championship. And I think we have the power, the coaches, the staff…we have all the pieces that we need to do so, and if we play correctly together, and we put ourselves aside, then we're going to do just that.

• [Off the court,] I'm feeling excited to connect with the fans…. I've seen so many little girls who wear my jersey and who want an autograph or my headband. I'm able to connect with the younger generation, and they really look up to me, so I think that's the biggest blessing.

Q: You always seem to have so much fun while you play. How do you maintain that attitude during the grind of the season?

A: My dad always taught me to play every game like it's your last game, so I come out so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with just the opportunity to play the game of basketball again. Going in with that mindset, it helps keep me humble…I come in with a joy and happy mindset. Basketball is supposed to be fun — I don't want to play the game like it's a chore. It's something that I love to do.

Q: There are lots of larger forces reshaping college sports, like NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment. How are things changing from a player’s perspective?

A: We athletes bring in a lot of money to the schools, so now, for us to be able to get paid for the money that we're bringing in, it's awesome, and it's definitely what athletes deserve.

• And [the transfer portal is] a good and a bad thing. It's been really hectic, but everybody has a reason for the transfer portal. It gives us more publicity with all this stuff going on — ‘This person just transferred, this person just got this deal,’ you know, it just brings us more fans.

Q: The women’s college game has undergone such a massive boom in the last few years, and it’s fed into growth at the pro level. How do you see the relationship between the college game and the WNBA?

A: I've had support from a lot of WNBA players, whether that was WNBA players coming up to me [after last year’s regular-season win over UConn], or from [Notre Dame] alumni here. I love how the WNBA supports college basketball. They give the girls the recognition that they need. It's a blessing to have people who have played here and who know what it takes to get to the league.