Hannah Hidalgo has been one of the stories of the season for the high-flying Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season. Hence, it of course came as a massive shock to everyone when they didn’t see the guard who has been averaging 25.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season in the starting lineup against Clemson.

Well, now we know the reason! A Notre Dame spokesperson released a statement saying. “She (Hidalgo) rolled her ankle late in the last game (against Wake Forest), and we just want to give her a bit of extra rest and make sure she’s 100% for the rest of the season.” 

Before rolling her ankle against Wake Forest, she achieved another career milestone. It was her 50th career double-digit scoring game as she scored 23 points to help her team beat the Forest.

This will be the first game she has missed in her entire collegiate career. She has been replaced by Cassandre Prosper in the starting five for the game against Clemson. She has been averaging 7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game this season and will have her task cut out.

Coach Niele Ivey will be hoping that this decision doesn’t backfire and the team keeps their winning run going without their star player. Now with Hidalgo temporarily out and Prosper in her place, the starting five for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish against Clemson includes Liza Karlen, Liatu King, Cassandre Prosper, Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron.

But even though she is out of the lineup for now as she rests on the sidelines, the sophomore Fighting Irish has already impressed some big guns in the industry.

NBA Hall Of Famer praises Hannah

Standout performances against the top five teams like USC Trojans, Texas Longhorns, and Uconn Huskies have made a strong case for Hannah Hidalgo in winning the National Player of the Year award. NBA legend Dwayne Wade was impressed with Hannah after her game against Paige Bueckers’ UConn.

Wade, a self-proclaimed Paige Bueckers fan was in awe after watching Hannah play. Her 29 points helped Notre Dame beat UConn and earn herself a lot of praise from the legend.

He said,”She’s like 5-foot-6 and she’s a dog,” Wade said. “Averages like seven rebounds a game-type dog. And when we say dog in hoops, that means something. This is a hoop term. We’re talking in hoop terms. It’s just straight hooper’s dog” The praise from one of the best ever to play the game is justified as Hannah has gone from strength to strength this season.

Hannah has picked up right where she left off from her freshman season. The All-American leads the ACC in steals and minutes played and second for points scored per game with 25.7 which has made Notre Dame the third-best team in the country. Despite being just 5’6” tall, Hidalgo’s presence is felt in every aspect of the play.

Be it scoring points in the paint, causing havoc in the opposition’s defense, grabbing those offensive rebounds, or helping her team out in defense. She brings an unmatched intensity that drives the Notre Dame team and inspires the players to perform well. She sure as hell will be a big big miss for the Fighting Irish!