Notre Dame women’s basketball 2023-24 banquet award winners
Notre Dame women’s basketball held its annual end-of-season awards banquet at Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday. Star of the show? None other than first-team Associated Press All-American Hannah Hidalgo, of course. The freshman record-setter went on stage four times in the 40-ish minute program.
Upon receiving her third award, she quipped, “I don’t have anything else to say,” after thanking God, her coaches and her teammates for the first two. Only three of the stage visits were to receive an award, though. She had plenty to say when she went up the fourth and final time.
When they say Hidalgo does it all — she broke records for Notre Dame and ACC freshman scoring, Notre Dame single-season steals, Notre Dame single-game scoring and was the fastest player in NCAA history to reach 100 steals and 500 points — she really does it all.
Her fourth time on stage was to recite the ceremony’s closing prayer.
“It speaks volumes of what she’s done and the impact that she’s made,” Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey said. “Not only on our team but in the ACC and college women’s basketball. Super, super excited for her to have received the recognition for the work she’s put in this season.”
Here is a full list of Tuesday’s award winners.
Notre Dame women’s basketball end-of-season awards banquet winners
Warrior of the Year
Strength and conditioning staffer Jarrett Moore
Defensive Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo
Most Improved
Maddy Westbeld
Most Spirited
Cass Prosper and Sarah Cernugel
Student-Athlete of the Year
Sarah Cernugel
Co-MVPs
Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron
Woody Miller MVP (as voted on by local media)
Hannah Hidalgo
Blue & Gold says … One note on Westbeld. It’s not often a former conference rookie of the year gets a most improved award going from her junior to senior season. But Westbeld increased her scoring by 3.2 points per game (11.2 to 14.4) and posted a career-best 8.7 rebounds per game. She poured everything she had into her senior season, and if that’s the Westbeld Notre Dame gets in her fifth season then the Irish are going to benefit greatly.
Fighting Irish women’s basketball quotes from Tuesday
“This group is so resilient. We had such a phenomenal season. Just super grateful to be able to lead this group. What we accomplished this season, I’m just really proud as a coach.” — Ivey
“It’s really, really special. We started workouts already and I think everybody’s eyes are on the next season. So to have this moment to sit and reflect and appreciate everything that everybody has done to put this season on and made it such a successful season, it really means a lot and it kind of puts into perspective how blessed we are.” — Westbeld
“It’s really surreal, honestly, because the season went by so fast. Just to tie things off now and to actually say it’s over, I;m still kind of in awe of how quick it ended and all we accomplished this season. We’re just excited to move onto next season and to get better.” — Hidalgo
