Notre Dame's Hidalgo Compares Vanderbilt's Blakes to Caitlin Clark

The two New Jersey natives will meet in the Sweet 16 matchup between No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 2 Vanderbilt.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:23pm

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Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame knows Mikayla Blakes' game well from their high school and AAU days, and she sees a lot of Caitlin Clark, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, in Blakes' game. Blakes is averaging a Division I-best 27 points per game, similar to Clark's junior year output at Iowa. The two will meet for the first time collegiately when Hidalgo's Notre Dame faces Blakes' Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

Why it matters

This Sweet 16 matchup features two of the top scorers in women's college basketball, with Hidalgo and Blakes both hailing from New Jersey and having faced off previously in high school and AAU competition. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight, a milestone that Notre Dame has not reached since 2019 and Vanderbilt has not reached since 2002.

The details

Hidalgo, a junior at Notre Dame, is known for her defensive prowess, leading the nation in steals. Blakes, a sophomore at Vanderbilt, is the top scorer in Division I this season, averaging 27 points per game - the exact same average as Caitlin Clark's junior year at Iowa. Both players are skilled scorers who can score from all three levels of the court.

  • The Sweet 16 matchup between No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 2 Vanderbilt will take place on Friday, March 26, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Hannah Hidalgo

A junior at Notre Dame, Hidalgo is known for her defensive abilities and led the nation in steals this season.

Mikayla Blakes

A sophomore at Vanderbilt, Blakes is the top scorer in Division I this season, averaging 27 points per game - the exact same average as Caitlin Clark's junior year at Iowa.

Caitlin Clark

The NCAA's all-time leading scorer, who played at Iowa and is known for her prolific scoring ability.

Niele Ivey

The head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball team, seeking her first Elite Eight appearance.

Shea Ralph

The head coach of the Vanderbilt women's basketball team, leading the program to its first Sweet 16 since 2009.

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What they’re saying

“She can score the ball, yeah, in so many different ways. Obviously we all know she's the No. 1 scorer in the country, but just the way she's able to put the ball in the hoop, it's unlike I feel like I've ever seen. Like Caitlin [Clark] type of level. She can score on all three levels, whether that's getting all the way to the basket, her midrange, or her 3. Of course, that's always tough to guard.”

— Hannah Hidalgo

“I love the way that they play her on defense. It allowed her — I said this yesterday — to be a free safety in a lot of ways. Because of her high IQ and competitiveness, she takes full advantage of that. She's a really good defensive player.”

— Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Notre Dame-Vanderbilt Sweet 16 matchup will advance to face the winner of the UConn-North Carolina game in the Elite Eight.

The takeaway

This Sweet 16 showdown features two of the top scorers in women's college basketball, with Hidalgo and Blakes having a long history of competition dating back to their high school and AAU days in New Jersey. The winner will have the chance to reach the Elite Eight, a milestone that has eluded both programs in recent years.