Hannah Hidalgo (Photo By MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
For months, Hannah Hidalgo kept quiet. The Notre Dame basketball star, known for her flashy handles and fearless scoring, had been at the center of a storm- and she didn’t say a word. That changed this weekend.

Hidalgo finally spoke out about the controversial Instagram repost that sparked outrage across the women’s basketball world and may have played a part in a sudden wave of transfers from the Fighting Irish program.

In a heartfelt letter published in The Players’ Tribune, the 20-year-old owned up to what she called a “mistake,” opened up about the emotional toll it took, and made it clear: she’s not who many made her out to be.

Long-Awaited Response From Hidalgo

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (Photo By MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The controversy traces back to July 2024, when Hidalgo shared a video clip featuring Candace Owens telling Don Lemon that homosexuality is a “sin” and marriage should only be between a man and a woman. The reaction was swift. Many of Hidalgo’s peers, including LGBTQ+ teammates, felt hurt.

Former Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw didn’t hold back, calling the repost “insulting to her teammates” and saying she was “really disappointed that it came out that way.” Hidalgo said nothing until now.

“You know the post I’m talking about,” she wrote, acknowledging the silence and the weight of her actions. “I had this new responsibility, and I’d let people down… maybe even hurt people I care about.”

She emphasized that the message didn’t reflect her beliefs. “I am not homophobic — I love all people, and believe we all deserve to exist authentically,” she said, adding that the experience led to personal growth and hard conversations with friends she feared she had hurt.

Meanwhile, star point guard Olivia Miles entered the transfer portal last week and seemingly referenced the drama. “Can’t treat people bad then hide behind religion,” she wrote, a pointed message that left little doubt about where she stood.

Hannah Hidalgo’s apology won’t fix everything overnight. But it’s a step. Whether it helps heal a fractured locker room or clears a path for reconciliation- time will tell.