^{October 30, 2025 | Edition #157}

Hey, Hoophead! 🎃

It’s Thursday, and you know what that means… Halloween’s practically here!

But before you get too caught up in candy stashes and last-minute costumes, let’s quickly catch you up with the hoops world. The WNBPA just found a powerful ally, Notre Dame is counting down its final days before a season that already looks a little spooky for all the wrong reasons, and the Fever crew just turned holidays into a full-blown comedy show. So, let’s get started…

Weight of the Irish Falls on Hannah

Funny how things come full circle for Notre Dame.

The biggest question last year revolved around Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. This year, it’s still Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. Only the context has flipped.

Back then, the talk was whether two ball-dominant guards could coexist. Now, it’s about whether the Fighting Irish can even survive without them. And sadly, this isn’t it.

Notre Dame had quite an exodus this offseason. Sonia Citron, Liatu King, and Maddy Westbeld headed to the pros as expected. What no one saw coming, though, was the sudden departure of four others through the transfer portal. That left the roster looking thinner than ever.

So, what’s the best possible fix?

Well, there’s only one real answer here: Hannah Hidalgo. She ranked among the top three players in the country on ESPN’s list ahead of the season. Check out who’s No. 1.

But it gets a bit tricky. See, we all know Hidalgo has it in her. After all, she carried the program to a Sweet 16 appearance as a freshman while Miles was sidelined. But she also has a pattern when the lights get bright. She’s shot the team out of the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years (4-for-14 vs Oregon, 3-for-19 vs TCU). The talent’s never in question, but she needs a solid supporting cast that can pick up the slack when she’s off.

And that exactly is the issue. Outside of Hidalgo, only Cassandre Prosper returns with consistent minutes. Five-star freshman Leah Macy will be one to watch in the post, along with a few transfers Niele Ivey snagged. But the truth is, it doesn’t quite make up for what they lost.

So yes, Notre Dame might not miss MM, but they sure don’t look stacked enough to run the ACC this time around. At least they’ve got a Player of the Year contender in their corner that can make this season exciting for the Fighting Irish fans.

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Award Chase Begins

It’s award season (well, kinda).

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has a way of celebrating college basketball like no one else….honoring legends of the past and the stars of today at the same time through positional awards.

And while officially these won’t be handed out until the end of the season, they’ve already given us something to get hyped about: the first wave of watch lists! Each of the lists features 20 players right now. By February, those lists will shrink to 10, and come late April, we’ll finally know who takes home the trophy.

But for now, we’ve got plenty to talk about.

Let’s start with easily the most anticipated one, the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard). The big names? Pretty much who you’d expect- Hannah Hidalgo, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Rori Harmon, Kiki Rice, Raven Johnson, and even freshman Aaliyah Chavez. Wait, did we miss someone?

Oh, of course not, last year’s finalist Olivia Miles made the cut, too. She might be on a mission after getting bested by a pretty predictable winner last season.

The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard) is headlined by the one and only Azzi Fudd. One of the best pure shooters in the game, Fudd has missed too many chances at this honor because of injuries. We would say this is her year, but with the depth, it’s going to be anything but easy. Check out who her competitors are!

For the Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Madison Booker is back to defend her crown. But just like last year, Mikaylah Williams and Gabriela Jaquez are right there, ready to challenge her, with UConn senior Caroline Ducharme joining the mix. Still, we’re calling it now…..Booker will go back-to-back.

And as for the other two awards, it’s anyone’s game. Because with last year’s winners out, we’re guaranteed some brand-new names taking the crown. The race for glory begins soon.

The Small Forward Watch List: The 20 Names Up For the Cheryl Miller Award

Meet UConn Locker Room’s Darling

You remember how UConn’s championship rings had “the power of friendship” engraved on them? Well, looks like they didn’t just wear it on their fingers, they’re carrying it in their hearts too. Because how else do you explain this team instantly clicking with a freshman who’s barely been around for two weeks?

We’re talking about Kelis Fisher.

At her first official media session, she was doing her best to stay calm and collected, but that didn’t last long. Cue Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold in the background….teasing, laughing, and eventually calling her this hilarious nickname mid-interview.

But in a way, this all makes perfect sense. Fisher’s UConn story started long before she even set foot on campus. The Baltimore native verbally committed to the Huskies as a sophomore in high school. She grew up watching Maya Moore and had her heart set on wearing that blue and white one day.

And she worked for it.

Even if it took transferring to a new school, IMG Academy in Florida. That decision totally paid off. Fisher led IMG to its first-ever Chipotle High School Basketball National Championship, dropping 23 points in the title game. And just one day later, she watched her future team lift their own trophy in Tampa.

Now, six months later, after lighting up summer circuits and even working alongside Fudd as a camp counselor, the No. 25 recruit is officially part of UConn’s loaded eight-player backcourt. Fisher’s explosive first step, tight handle, and constant attack mode make her a natural fit in Geno Auriemma’s system.

Expect her to back up KK Arnold and Kayleigh Heckel, because while she shoots, her strength lies at the point. And once you catch her vision and passing, you’ll know she’s the real deal.

Watch her bring exactly that to the Huskies super soon.

All Signs Point to Azzi! UConn Teases Fudd’s Big Moment May Be Days Away

Screams & Laughs with the Fever

Halloween got hauntingly hilarious for the Indiana Fever squad.

Lexie Hull, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson decided to celebrate the spooky season together with a trip to a haunted house. And let’s just say… chaos absolutely ensued. Obviously, it took no time for the Fever to flood their grid with videos of McDonald absolutely losing it. This one might just be the funniest of them all!

Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers is out here having her own kind of fun. We know, we’ve been talking about her a lot lately, but can you blame us? She keeps dropping surprises left and right. Now, it turns out Paige won’t just be adding Unrivaled to her résumé this offseason. She’s adding a whole new profession. Yes, acting! The Wings star is starring in a movie soon, and it’s a plot we’d absolutely love to see her be a part of!

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That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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