Hannah Hidalgo named ACC Preseason Player of the Year as ND gears up for new season

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Notre Dame women’s basketball team is just two weeks away from tipping off its first exhibition game of the season at home against Purdue Northwest — and expectations are already high in South Bend.

Coming off a strong 28–6 campaign and a Sweet 16 appearance, the Fighting Irish are preparing to reload after losing several key players to the WNBA and transfer portal. But if you ask the team, outside opinions and preseason rankings don’t mean much.

“We have enough belief in our locker room,” senior guard Iyana Moore said. “We know we can go out there and do it — if people don’t believe in us, it doesn’t really matter because they’re not here every single day with us.”

Notre Dame enters the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Preseason Poll, five spots lower than where it finished last year. Still, the team retains its biggest weapon — Hannah Hidalgo, last season’s leading scorer, who averaged 23.8 points per game and was just named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.

While the Irish will rely on Hidalgo’s playmaking and leadership, head coach Niele Ivey has emphasized the importance of chemistry as several transfers and newcomers adjust to the program.

Fans will get their first look at the new squad on Oct. 30, when Notre Dame hosts Purdue Northwest in an exhibition matchup at Purcell Pavilion.