Notre Dame women’s basketball star Hannah Hidalgo, a talented freshman and All-American player, was forced to remove her nose ring during a March Madness Sweet 16 game against Oregon State, which Notre Dame ultimately lost 70-65. Although Hidalgo had been wearing the nose ring all season, officials enforced a rule prohibiting athletes from wearing jewelry during games. Hidalgo had to have the ring removed mid-game, causing her to miss playing time and impacting her performance.
Hidalgo expressed frustration with the officials’ decision to have her remove the nose ring, stating that she was on a roll during the game and felt the ruling disrupted her momentum. Despite being initially told she could cover up the ring, she was later informed that it had to be completely removed or she wouldn’t be allowed to continue playing. The trainers struggled to remove the ring, causing some bleeding and confusion during the process. Hidalgo felt that the officials should have focused on refereeing the game rather than enforcing the jewelry rule.
Following the game, Hidalgo stated that she was unaware of the jewelry rules, and was under the impression that she could cover up the ring during play. Coach Niele Ivey mentioned that they were not informed about the emphasis on jewelry rules for the Sweet 16, and had they known earlier, they could have adjusted accordingly. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, the team had to move on from the incident and focus on the game.
Despite the setback with the jewelry rule, Hidalgo finished the game with 10 points while shooting 4-for-17 from the field. Her performance in her first collegiate season has been exceptional, with average statistics of 22.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per contest, 5.6 assists per game, and leading the country in steals with 4.6 per game. Despite the loss and the unexpected situation with the jewelry rule, Hidalgo’s talent and potential as a player remain evident, and she is likely to continue making waves in women’s college basketball.
