Overview
- Hidalgo, who starred for Notre Dame this season, was named the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday in an announcement by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
- She set the NCAA single-season steals record with 202 and became the first Division I player to surpass 200 steals since the stat was formalized in 1988.
- Her postseason run included an NCAA Tournament record 29 steals in four games and a Sweet Sixteen 30-point triple-double against Vanderbilt.
- The junior averaged 25.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 5.6 steals, earned ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, and was named to the Wooden Award All-America team.
- Notre Dame reached the Elite Eight before losing to UConn, and Hidalgo was not a finalist for national Player of the Year, which went to UConn’s Sarah Strong, as she returns with one season of eligibility.