In a surprising turn of events, the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team suffered an 86-81 home defeat to the No. 24 Florida State Seminoles on Thursday, February 27, 2025. This loss marks Notre Dame’s second consecutive defeat, following a double-overtime setback against NC State earlier in the week. The consecutive losses have jeopardized the team’s control over the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular-season title. To secure the championship outright, Notre Dame now faces a must-win situation against Louisville and requires NC State to lose to SMU on Sunday. Otherwise, the title will be shared, with NC State earning the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament due to their recent victory over the Irish. citeturn0search1

 

Sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo, a National Player of the Year contender, experienced an uncharacteristically challenging game against Florida State. She managed 16 points but struggled with her shooting, connecting on just 4 of 18 attempts from the field, and recorded only one assist. Her performance was overshadowed by Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, who, despite returning from an ankle injury, contributed 23 points and nine assists to lead her team to victory. citeturn0search1

 

In the post-game press conference, Hidalgo addressed the team’s recent struggles with a candid statement:

 

> “These back-to-back losses have been a wake-up call for us. We need to reflect on our performance, identify where we went wrong, and come together as a team to fix it. Our goals are still within reach, but it’s on us to make the necessary adjustments and play to our potential.”

 

Hidalgo’s remarks underscore the urgency within the team to regroup and refocus as they approach the critical final game of the regular season and the forthcoming ACC Tournament. Head coach Niele Ivey echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of resilience and learning from adversity to achieve their championship aspirations.

 

The Fighting Irish will need to address key issues, including improving shooting efficiency and defensive cohesion, to bounce back from these setbacks. Their upcoming matchup against Louisville now carries significant weight, as it not only impacts their standing in the ACC but also serves as a pivotal moment to regain momentum heading into postseason play.

 

As the team prepares for this crucial juncture, the leadership of players like Hidalgo and the strategic guidance of Coach Ivey will be instrumental in determining Notre Dame’s trajectory in the remainder of the season.