Hannah Hidalgo's mom Tamara Hidalgo approves WNBA legend Sue Bird's bold prediction

Modified Dec 21, 2024 15:10 GMT

Hannah Hidalgo has become one of the fastest-rising women’s basketball players today because of her strong performances with Notre Dame. The sophomore guard is averaging impressive numbers, 25.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, igniting buzz around her name.

With her excellent play, Hidalgo has earned the attention of four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird, who predicted:

“If I had to put an early vote for Player of the Year, it’s probably Hannah (Hidalgo)."

Sue Bird’s statement, while bold considering it is still early in the season, was reposted by Hannah Hidalgo’s mother, Tamara, on her Instagram account, approving the WNBA legend’s thoughts about her daughter.

Hidalgo still has a lot ahead of her before she becomes eligible for the professional ranks. She will only be 20 years old in 2025, two years below the WNBA's eligibility requirement for draft prospects. At the earliest, Hidalgo will be eligible for the 2027 draft, allowing her to hone her craft at the collegiate level.

As of now, she ranks second in scoring in college basketball, behind Florida State’s Ta'Niya Latson. Hidalgo also earned The Associated Press’s Player of the Week honors for Week 6, her second this season.

Sue Bird weighs in on NBA’s ratings drop

As a legend of the sport, Sue Bird’s statements hold value. She was a guest on the "Young Man and The Three" podcast on Friday, where she voiced her thoughts about the NBA’s ratings drop this season, which has been attributed to the overreliance of teams on the 3-point shot.

“I can argue on both sides of the table for this," Bird said. "Because I think the reality is, when you’re in the locker room, whether you’re a coach, whether you’re a GM putting a team together, a coach a player, you’re trying to win." (0:22)

Sue Bird also pointed out that for a viewer, shooting 3-pointers may deem the game “predictable.”

“Right now, it is being set up analytically. The proof’s in the pudding that if you play this way, it equates to wins. You can’t just remove that, but as a viewer, I think there is something to the game being a little bit too predictable?"

Expand Tweet

This season, the NBA’s league average for 3-point attempts rose to an all-time high of 37.5 attempts per game, up from 22.4 in the 2014-2015 season.