The world of women’s college basketball is more thrilling than ever, with several standout players making waves across the country. One such player is Hannah Hidalgo, a star at Notre Dame in the Midwest.
Hidalgo earned first-team All-American honors and was named the Dawn Staley Award winner as the nation’s top guard during her freshman year.
In her sophomore year, Hidalgo continued her stellar performance, earning another first-team All-American selection and being named ACC Player of the Year. While her star power is undeniable, the question remains: is she being compensated as one of the top players?
Hidalgo’s NIL valuation is estimated to be around $1 million, though this figure has not been officially confirmed. The 5-foot-6 athlete has secured NIL deals with prominent brands like Red Bull, New Era, Topps, the Aloft South Bend hotel chain, VKTRY, and others.
This season, the 20-year-old Hidalgo is averaging 24.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. She was in the running for national player of the year, leading the Fighting Irish to a No. 8 ranking in the final AP Top 25 poll of the regular season. Before making her mark at Notre Dame, Hidalgo was a five-star recruit from Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Ranked as the No. 5 player in her recruiting class, she was named a McDonald’s All-American, earned MVP honors, and was awarded USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year after leading Team USA to gold at the FIBA U-19 World Cup in Spain.
Hidalgo chose Notre Dame over offers from top programs like Michigan, Stanford, Duke, and Ohio State.
