Hannah Hidalgo must have thought she was walking into just another interview when, out of nowhere, BAM, the queen of clutch herself, Arike Ogunbowale, showed up to hit her with a blast from the past—and some seriously swaggy gifts. Not every day do you sit in an interview talking about someone’s iconic moment, only to have them walk in and re-enact it right in front of you. Let’s just say Hidalgo got a front-row seat to the Arike Experience.
The Dallas Wings star partnered with Red Bull for a wholesome (and high-energy) ambush, welcoming Notre Dame’s breakout guard with a care package that would make any college athlete’s day: a slick Red Bull hat, a beanie for those winter grind sessions, and AirPods Max. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Red Bull moment without a couple of cans of that wing-giving nectar.
Now, here’s where the fun really starts. Before Ogunbowale burst onto the scene, Hidalgo was mid-sentence, casually confessing that back in the day, she was not cheering for the Fighting Irish. A bold statement when the person who hit the legendary 2018 championship-winning shot suddenly walks in. Timing? Impeccable. Cue Arike’s Oscar-worthy entrance as she hilariously re-lived the dagger she drained to immortalize herself in college basketball history.
Who’d Win: Hidalgo’s Squad or Ogunbowale’s Champs?
After the surprise reunion and much laughter, Ogunbowale lobbed the ultimate debate grenade at Hidalgo: who’d win—her current Notre Dame squad or the 2018 National Champs led by Ogunbowale?
Like any confident college baller, Hidalgo didn’t flinch. She backed her squad without hesitation. (Arike, of course, didn’t argue, because… let’s face it, legends don’t need to.)
Speaking of legends, Hidalgo’s quickly building her own legacy at Notre Dame. The guard recently smashed records, becoming the fastest player in program history to hit 1,000 career points—in just 44 games! That’s the kind of number you only see in NBA 2K when you forget to lower the difficulty. Hidalgo was quick to give flowers to the trailblazing Notre Dame greats like Ogunbowale, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Jewell Loyd.
“Honestly, it’s truly a blessing to be able to reach that goal,” Hidalgo said, full of humility. “All these top guards that have come through this program—I’m honored to have this accolade.”
Ogunbowale’s Nostalgic Day Back at Notre Dame
While the surprise gifts for Hidalgo stole headlines, Ogunbowale’s day back at Notre Dame was packed with emotions and memories. She laced up for a nostalgic practice session at the court she once owned and later watched her alma mater take on the UConn Huskies in a showdown that lived up to the hype.
Hidalgo showed up and showed out, leading Notre Dame to a dominant 79-68 win with a monster double-double—29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Hidalgo must’ve been powered by Arike’s presence—or maybe those Red Bull cans Ogunbowale brought with her. Either way, it was Hidalgo’s world, and UConn was just visiting.
Ogunbowale, no stranger to big moments, gave the current Irish squad a heartwarming locker-room pep talk post-game. If you thought she only delivered in buzzer-beater scenarios, think again:
“It was amazing watching y’all,” she said, glowing with pride. “Coaches always told us these years go by fast. While you’re in it, you don’t feel it. But six years removed, this is still our best memory. Celebrate tonight, because these are the moments you’ll remember when you’re 27, 30, or even 40.”
Translation? Don’t let the good times fade. Arike knows a thing or two about moments that last forever—ask the net she snatched in 2018.
Notre Dame’s Current Domination: Hidalgo Leading the Charge
With Hidalgo running the show and pulling up stat lines that sound more like video game cheat codes than real life—25.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 4.2 steals—the Fighting Irish have earned their spot among the NCAA elite. The UConn win bumped them up to No. 3 in the AP poll, and with Hidalgo on fire, the Irish have their eyes locked on March glory.
Their current 9-2 record is impressive, but don’t sleep on their four-game winning streak—or Hidalgo’s knack for stuffing the box score. At this rate, the Notre Dame faithful might need to start dusting off space in the trophy case.
What’s Next? Legacy vs. Legacy
Ogunbowale and Hidalgo are cut from the same Fighting Irish cloth: players who don’t just win games but rewrite history. While Ogunbowale’s championship-winning shot remains one of the greatest mic-drop moments in women’s college basketball, Hidalgo’s meteoric rise might just set the stage for her own legendary moment—or three.
And who knows? Maybe years from now, a young baller will sit in an interview talking about Hannah Hidalgo’s greatness, only to have her walk in, re-enacting her iconic shot. Full circle, anyone?
For now, we’ll leave you with this: If Arike Ogunbowale can surprise someone with AirPods Max, what’s next? Hidalgo casually handing out PS6 consoles to future recruits? One can dream… but Notre Dame’s real gifts are the generational talents wearing green and gold.
Cheers to more shots, surprises, and stories that live forever.
