Star guard Hannah Hidalgo announced via social media on Thursday that she will "run it back" and return to the University of Notre Dame for her senior basketball season. The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year is not entering the transfer portal and is not yet eligible for the WNBA Draft, meaning the professional league will have to wait for her dynamic skills.
WNBA Draft eligibility requires a player to graduate from a four-year college within three months of the draft, be four years removed from high school, or turn 22 in the draft year. Hidalgo, 21, does not meet these criteria, as she won't be 22 until next February and is only three years removed from high school.
Her return sets her up to be part of a potentially loaded 2027 WNBA Draft class, which could include stars like USC's JuJu Watkins and Texas's Madison Booker. Hidalgo's junior season was highlighted by leading a No. 6-seeded Notre Dame team to the Elite Eight, where she averaged 25.5 points, 11 rebounds, 7.3 steals, and 4.5 assists over four games.
Notably, she recorded a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals in a Sweet 16 upset over Vanderbilt, breaking the NCAA single-season steals record in the process. She finished the season with 202 steals and now has 481 for her career, putting the all-time record of 649 within reach for her final collegiate campaign.