Ladies’s faculty basketball star Hannah Hidalgo lastly broke her silence about her controversial repost of Candace Owens commentary on Saturday. Her public handle comes simply 5 days after Notre Dame teammate Olivia Miles entered the switch portal with a cryptic shot at her former teammate.
Will or not it’s sufficient to restore the connection?! I don’t suppose so.
Hidalgo, a five-star ladies’s faculty basketball prospect within the recruiting Class of 2023, dedicated to play at Notre Dame over provides from Michigan, Stanford, Duke and Ohio State, amongst others. It was an enormous get for this system. She has averaged greater than 22 factors and 5 rebounds per sport in every of the final two seasons. The Preventing Irish reached the Elite Eight in each years.
A big a part of Hidalgo’s resolution to play in South Bend was primarily based in faith. The 2-time All-American may be very open about her Christian religion and stated earlier than that it deepened through the pandemic.
Nonetheless, her non secular views bought her into some hassle in July 2024. Hidalgo reposted a clip to her Instagram story from a dialog between Don Lemon, who’s brazenly homosexual, and Candace Owens. Owens advised Lemon that she believes it’s a “sin” to be concerned in a gay relationship and doesn’t “imagine marriage may be between two males.”
A lot of ladies’s faculty basketball gamers determine as gay, together with a few of Hidalgo’s teammates. It didn’t sit effectively with them. Former Notre Dame head coach Muffett McGraw even went as far as to say that it was “insulting to her teammates, to everyone within the sport of basketball. I used to be actually dissatisfied that it got here out that manner. I used to be comfortable that she deleted it, however the injury I believe was accomplished earlier than she deleted it.”
Hannah Hidalgo by no means addressed the controversy.
Now quick ahead to final week. Olivia Miles, who averaged 15 factors per sport for the Preventing Irish final season, made a monumental resolution to forgo the WNBA Draft and enter the switch portal. A number of of her teammates additionally determined to go away this system. It was one thing of a mass exodus, if you’ll. (No pun supposed.)
There was numerous hypothesis that the gamers left due to Hidalgo and the Candace Owens repost. Miles primarily confirmed it.
She reposted a TikTok video that stated: “Treating folks proper is healthier than posting Bible verses you don’t even observe.” Her personal caption learn: “Can’t deal with folks dangerous then cover behind faith.” The message was loud and clear.
Hidalgo lastly broke her silence on the drama in a letter to The Gamers’ Tribune on Saturday.
Till not too long ago, basketball was this outlet. However if you’re 19 years outdated and making an attempt to determine your life out, and also you begin to get buzz on social media – if you abruptly have a platform – it may be actually overwhelming.
It’s a studying course of. Amongst different issues, it’s a must to be intentional about what you publish. Which matches double if it’s any person else you’re amplifying – versus one thing that comes out of your coronary heart, that displays your character and genuine self.
the publish I’m speaking about.
— Hannah Hidalgo
The 20-year-old was harm by what occurred as a result of others had been harm by her actions.
Now, feeling misinterpreted is one factor. I’ve all the time been very non-public, and studying easy methods to navigate the media in public as an adolescent is simply plain exhausting. However realizing that I had this new accountability and that I’d let folks down, given the unsuitable impression, perhaps even harm folks I care about – that bought me spiraling.
— Hannah Hidalgo
She desires to be clear that she shouldn’t be homophobic and referred to the repost as a mistake.
I grew loads from the conversations I had coming off that mistake, particularly with mates I used to be afraid I’d harm. As an alternative, I used to be relieved to really feel embraced and secure. I’m not homophobic — I really like all folks, and imagine all of us need to exist authentically, however I perceive now how that narrative developed. I ought to have been extra public about how a lot I worth everybody’s humanity and the way what makes us distinctive as people may be what powers a fantastic group.
— Hannah Hidalgo
Hannah Hidalgo then went on to say that the folks with whom she surrounds herself at Notre Dame are her prolonged household. They taught her loads about life over these final 9 months.
This letter helps to set the document straight. It won’t be sufficient to get Miles and the opposite gamers who left to come back again, however it can assist with the optics transferring ahead. Hidalgo took accountability. She says she has realized a tough lesson.
