Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Hannah Hidalgo recently addressed the rumors surrounding her supposed transfer and the reason why she would not do so but instead remain with the Fighting Irish for the next season.
In an interview with Sportskeeda, Hannah Hidalgo got honest about why she decided to stay with Notre Dame despite rumors of her supposedly going through the transfer portal.
“Of course, it’s tough,” Hidalgo said. “We’re going through a lot of adversity right now. The big thing was about trusting God. God is going to provide for me. Just knowing that and being rooted in my faith, I know that God has my back.”
Aside from her faith, Hidalgo also cited loyalty as a core motivation for her. Her third reason was the contribution of a major mentor figure.
“It’s also about loyalty,” she added. “It’s also about being loyal to my coach. She has done so much for me. She has treated me so well. She has been through a lot of ups and downs with me. And she’s been consistent throughout the whole process. She’s given so much to me, and I want to be able to give back to her.”
With that said, she reiterated that her goal of playing for four years in one school has not changed.
“I want to be at a program where I’m at for four years. That’s my goal. That was my goal coming into college, and that’s still my end goal.”
The 2024-2025 season was a strong one for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team, though it ended in disappointment with a Sweet 16 loss to TCU in the NCAA Tournament. The team showcased its depth and talent throughout the season, finishing with a 28-6 record.
Hannah Hidalgo Credits Head Coach for Development
In the same interview, Hannah Hidalgo also expressed her gratitude for her head coach, Niele Ivey, who she said has helped her “more than basketball.”
“She’s tough coaching me on the court,” Hidalgo said of Ivey. “And then off the court, she’s coming to me and inviting us over and showing love. That’s so important because I want to play for somebody who cares for me, and doesn’t just care what I’m providing for them on the court.”
“It’s more than that. It’s more than basketball and bigger than basketball.”
This season, Hannah Hidalgo averaged 23.8 points per game while also contributing 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
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