BREAKING: Basketball Experts Confirm Hannah Hidalgo is Good at Basketball (Shocking, We Know)
In a stunning development from the Department of The Obvious, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on Wednesday that Notre Dame junior Hannah Hidalgo has been named to the John R. Wooden Midseason Top 25 Watch List.
We know. You are floored. You are flabbergasted. You are dropping your phone in disbelief.
Being named to the Wooden Watch List is reserved for the 25 best players in the country. Putting Hidalgo on this list is like putting "Oxygen" on a list of "Things Humans Need to Survive." It’s not just a suggestion; it’s a requirement.
The Resume (Or: Why Opponents Hate Her)
Hidalgo has been a finalist for the Wooden Award in her last two seasons. Now in her junior campaign, she has decided to stop playing basketball and start playing a video game on "God Mode."
Steals: She leads the nation with 5.86 steals per game.
Points: She ranks second nationally with 25.3 points per game.
She is literally the best player in the country at taking the ball away from you, and the second-best at putting it in the hoop. That is a terrifying combination. That is like a burglar who also happens to be a world-class locksmith.
The "Are You Kidding Me?" Moments
This season alone, the Merchantville, New Jersey native has treated the record books like her personal diary:
The Akron Heist: She set the NCAA record with 16 steals in a single game against Akron. Sixteen! There are entire teams that don’t get 16 steals in a week.
The Triple-Double: She posted the only 30-point triple-double in Notre Dame history against Bellarmine (30 points, 13 steals, 10 assists).
The USC Dagger: When she got bored of blowing teams out, she hit a game-winner with 1.9 seconds left to beat No. 11 USC.
The Record Breaker
Hidalgo now owns the program records for:
Most 20+ point games (62)
Most 30+ point games (13)
Most points in a single game (44)
What’s Next?
The list will eventually be whittled down to a "National Ballot" of 15 players. The winners will be honored on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The Sanchez Verdict: If Hannah Hidalgo isn't on the final ballot, we riot. Until then, check your pockets—she probably stole your wallet while you were reading this.
