Hannah Hidalgo is putting on a March Madness masterclass, and she’s now in an exclusive club alongside none other than Indiana Fever’s superstar Caitlin Clark. As Notre Dame Fighting Irish stormed past Michigan Wolverines to reach the Sweet 16, Hidalgo’s incredible season hit another milestone—one that only Clark has reached in the last 25 years.
With history on her side and the Fighting Irish heating up at the right time, the sophomore phenom is making waves.
Hannah Hidalgo’s Historic Feat Sets the Tone
Notre Dame’s 76-55 victory over Michigan on Sunday, March 23, was impressive, but Hidalgo’s latest achievement stole the show. The rising star scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding three assists, two steals, a block and a rebound in 36 minutes.
But it was ESPN’s breakdown that put her dominance into perspective—she and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark are now the only players in the last 25 seasons to notch at least 1,500+ points and 300+ assists in their first two college seasons.
Caitlin mention during the Notre Dame game. Hannah Hidalgo is cooking pic.twitter.com/tPOmJWOcve
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 23, 2025
A side-by-side stat comparison showed Clark with 1,662 points and 471 assists in 62 games, while Hidalgo reached 1,536 points and 308 assists in 66 games. While Clark holds the edge in raw numbers, the fact that Hidalgo is even in the same conversation highlights just how special her impact has been.
And the scary part? She still has another year before she’s eligible for the WNBA Draft.
Sunday’s win punched Notre Dame’s ticket to its fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance. The No. 3-seeded Irish dominated from start to finish, showcasing the firepower that once had them ranked as the best team in the country.
Their journey hasn’t been smooth—late-season struggles, including two losses in their last three regular-season games and an early ACC Tournament exit, saw them slide from a potential No. 1 seed to No. 3. But now, they look every bit like a title contender again.
Hidalgo captured the team’s mindset perfectly after the win:
“I think we have the fight because we want to win. We are competitors and we want to win and we want to get all the way to the National Championship, and that’s really where our fight comes from.”
Notre Dame’s Dominant March Madness Run Continues
Before knocking out Michigan, the Irish made a statement in the first round, dismantling 14-seed Stephen F. Austin 106-54. It was a complete team effort, with five players finishing in double figures. Hidalgo led the way with 24 points, setting the tone for what has been a stellar tournament run.
With momentum on their side and Hidalgo making history, Notre Dame is once again a force in March. They’ve already taken down two teams—now, they’ll look to extend their stay even further as they chase a national championship.