How Hannah Hidalgo channeled Maya Moore's advice to lead No. 6 Notre Dame back to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16

FORT WORTH, Texas — The intentionality of team building clicked for Hannah Hidalgo after speaking with Maya Moore as an attendee, rather than a participant, at the 2025 Final Four. She listened as the two-time UConn national champion, four-time WNBA champion and Naismith Hall of Famer recalled how her teams would stash their phones on bus rides. They pulled out games to carry their attention instead.

Natural chatter would rise as teammates became family. Their bonds strengthened, making their play on the court easier. Hidalgo said she had never considered or understood how to create that type of camaraderie on her AAU teams or as a freshman at Notre Dame.

At the time of the conversation with Moore, senior point guard Olivia Miles had already announced her intention to transfer, forgoing the WNBA Draft and eventually signing at TCU. Emerging freshman center Kate Koval also left, as did a few others. The exodus left Hidalgo as the only returning starter from a team many thought could sneak into the Final Four.

Their ceiling dropped, even though Hidalgo can pack a stat line and pour in points like few in the country. “I know what I have to do in order for us to get to that next level,” Hidalgo remembered telling herself. we believe in us, no matter what gets stacked against us.