Freshman Leah Macy was also highlighted in the announcement, as she was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List.
Preseason ACC Player of the Year — Hannah Hidalgo
A two-time AP First Team All-American, Wooden Finalist and last season’s ACC Player of the Year, Hidalgo enters her junior season in South Bend as the favorite to capture the league’s top honor.
Hidalgo posted numbers that haven’t been seen this century on the men’s or women’s side of NCAA DI play, becoming the only player to average at least 20.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 steals per game while shooting at least .400 from three-point range and .850 from the free throw line since 2000.
Hidalgo averaged 23.8 points per game during her sophomore campaign, breaking her own Notre Dame scoring record from her freshman season (22.6). Additionally, Hidalgo joined Irish legend Arike Ogunbowale as the only players in Notre Dame history to post multiple 700-point seasons.
ACC Newcomer Watch List — Leah Macy
Macy comes to the Irish as a highly touted freshman, hailing from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The five-star forward was ranked No. 19 (No. 4 forward) in the Class of 2025 according to ESPN and was a McDonald’s All-American and four-time all-state first-team selection at Bethlehem High School.
As a senior, Macy averaged 27 points, 13.4 rebounds, 8 assists and shot 64.6 percent from the floor.
In addition to the individual honors, Notre Dame was picked fifth in the ACC preseason poll.
The Fighting Irish open the season in Purcell Pavilion with an Oct. 30 exhibition against Purdue Northwest at 7 p.m. and a home opener on Nov. 5 against Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m.
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