PHILADELPHIA — For the second time in Notre Dame history, the Dawn Staley Award is headed to South Bend.
On Friday, Hannah Hidalgo was named the 23-2024 award winner, joining former Irish guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who won the award 2012-13. The honor is named for Hall of Famer and current South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and is given to the nation’s best guard.
“The Dawn Staley Award goes to the player who demonstrates exceptional skills, leadership and performance at the guard position,” Staley said. “Hannah’s court vision, passing ability, ball-handling and ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates combined with her relentless defense is unmatched. She is the embodiment of a two way force on the basketball court and the essence of what the award represents. In a season where there are several deserving candidates, Hannah has separated herself from the group.”
Since its inception in 2012, all of the award winners have been drafted in the First Round of the WNBA Draft.
Hidalgo will add the honor to her lengthy list of accolades, one which includes ACC Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, AP First Team All-American and Wooden Award finalist. The rookie averaged 22.6 points and 4.6 steals per game, and the latter mark leads the nation. Both numbers are Irish program records.
Hidalgo will be honored in a virtual ceremony on April 11.