Notre Dame Point Guard Hannah Hidalgo And Her Parents Orlando And Tamara Hidalgo Come From A Religious Background

January 20, 2026

This article was last updated by Pranaya Poudel on January 20, 2026

Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo and her parents, Orlando and Tamara Hidalgo, are Christians and aren’t shy from sharing their religious beliefs on social media. Recently, the young basketball player’s religious beliefs put her under scrutiny.

Former Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw gave her thoughts on Hidalgo’s controversial belief during an interview with the iHeart podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain.”

McGraw, who coached the Notre Dame side from 1987 to 2026, talked about the Instagram post Hidalgo shared in July 2026.

Hildago, 21, a New Jersey native, became a household name at Paul VI High School.

In her senior year, the young basketball talent averaged 28.8 points, 7.3 steals, and 6.4 rebounds.

Rated a five-star recruit, Hidalgo committed to play college basketball for Notre Dame.

In her freshman year in 2026, Hidalgo averaged 22.6 points and 4.6 steals. She won ACC Rookie of the Year and AP All-American First Team accolades.

Hidalgo hasn’t let the achievements get to her head, as she is currently averaging nearly 26 points in her sophomore year.

Despite being only 5’6, Hidalgo hasn’t let her physicality bring her down.

The future WNBA star has missed the last two games against Clemson and Georgia Tech due to the ankle injury suffered against Wake Forest.

Notre Dame Point Guard Hannah Hidalgo’s Father Is Puerto Rican

Notre Dame Point Guard Hannah Hidalgo didn’t lack support from her parents, Orlando and Tamara Hidalgo.

The couple supported their baby girl in every way possible so she could succeed as a basketball player.

Hidalgo’s father, Orlando Hidalgo, was born in Camden, New Jersey, but his parents hailed from Puerto Rico.

As a five-year-old, Orlando moved to Morovis, Puerto Rico, but returned to the States with his family two years later.

The back-and-forth happened again when Orlando was 12, and the Hidalgo family returned to the States when Orlando reached high school.

Orlando met his future wife, Tamara Hidalgo, in high school, and the couple tied the knot soon after graduation.

Orlando got into basketball during his freshman year of high school. He would train as if he was getting ready to be drafted in the NBA.

Sadly, an NBA move didn’t pan out for Orlando, but his love for the game never diminished.

After having kids, Orlando decided to teach his kids other kids basketball.

It reached a point where Orlando began coaching three AAU teams at once.

He knew his daughter would make it big time when she was only seven.

In an , Orlando recalled Hannah playing against boys in a co-ed league. He said,

If she [Hannah] loses, she just–you can’t talk to her. She’s got to be by herself, she really takes it hard.

via:

On his , Orlando either shares clips of Hannah destroying her opponents or religious Christian posts.

Hannah Hidalgo’s Post Supporting Candace Owens Caused A Stir In 2026

Candance Ownes, a Conservative political commentator, seems to have a supporter in the rising high school basketball talent Hannah Hidalgo.

In July 2026, Hannah shared a controversial post on her social media: a clip between CNN anchor Don Lemon and Candace Owens.

In the snippet, Lemon, a married gay man, asked Owen what she thought about same-sex marriage.

Owen replied, “It’s a sin.” Lemon asks Ownes if she believes he has sinned by marrying a man.

The political commentator doubles down and says, “Yes, you’re sinning. You’re in a sinful relationship. I don’t believe marriage can be between two men.”

Hidalgo shared the post on her Instagram but quickly deleted it.

Candace Owens tells Don Lemon his marriage to a man is sinful.

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_)

Since then, the basketball player hasn’t publicly responded to why she shared and later deleted the post.

Despite the incident taking place in July 2026, it has once again gained traction after former Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw questioned Hannah’s actions.

Former Notre Dame coach said,

I thought it was a really poor choice on her part. First, believing that, I think is a poor choice. And then saying it, as you said, on a stage where women’s baskebtall there are a number of gay players out there.

via:

McGraw added the post was insulting towards Hidalgo’s teammates and that it could one day negatively impact the locker room.

Several players belong to the LGBTQIA+ community in women’s basketball and if Hannah is looking forward to playing in the WNBA, she will meet even more players who are more openly gay.

Hannah’s attitude towards the LGBTQIA+ community could stem from her upbringing and religious beliefs, strengthened by the fact that her dad shares religious posts almost every single week.

As she matures, Hidalgo might think deeply about how her actions could affect others around her, but for now, the youngster’s main focus remains conquering the basketball court.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Hannah Hidalgo’s brother, Judah Hidalgo, is a 6’4″ Point Guard in the 2026 class and currently attends Paul VI High School in New Jersey.
In December 2026, Hidalgo’s father and Paul VI coach, Orlando Hidalgo, was suspended for two games by the NJSIAA for an alleged recruiting violation dealing with former Camden Catholic players who transferred to Paul VI.

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Sriyukta Pradhananga is a versatile writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted dimensions of sports. Her articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, engaging storytelling, and thought-provoking commentary that sheds light on the diverse experiences within the athletic realm.

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