We never thought we would be typing this sentence, but freshman sensation Hannah Hidalgo had to stop mid-game to have her nose stud removed during the women’s NCAA tournament.
During the season, Hannah Hidalgo has been picking pockets and dropping buckets with a small stud in her left nostril. It’s barely noticeable to the naked eye and hasn’t slowed her down or caused any issues. She even played with it in previous games during March Madness while concealing it with a Band-Aid.
However, officials in Friday’s Oregon State-Notre Dame Sweet 16 matchup alerted the Fighting Irish that they had to remove it per the NCAA women’s basketball rules handbook. The rule surrounding player equipment states that head decorations, headwear, helmets and jewelry are illegal. Hidalgo missed four minutes and ten seconds of the second quarter before rejoining the team.
Hannah Hidalgo missed some time in Notre Dame's Sweet 16 matchup with Oregon State to have her nose ring removed. pic.twitter.com/1XF0XCCrjM
— ESPN (@espn) March 29, 2024
Unusual moment in the Oregon State – Notre Dame game, where Holly Rowe delivered a sideline report on Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo being told to take her nose ring out mid-game. pic.twitter.com/cL171NRJlC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 29, 2024
Here’s how social media reacted (Warning: NSFW language):
They’re damn near doing surgery to take out Hannah Hidalgo’s diamond nose ring (which she has worn all season) out before she can check back in 😒 pic.twitter.com/09ysKJ8N2J
— Joshua Sánchez (@jnsanchez) March 29, 2024
They're making Hannah Hidalgo take her nose ring out mid-game?
— Talia Goodman (@goodmansport) March 29, 2024
Hannah Hidalgo missing nearly half of the second quarter to take out a nose ring she wore the entire first quarter is wild #MarchMadness2024
— Courtney (she/her) (@ripscourt) March 29, 2024
Making Hannah Hidalgo take out her nose ring in the middle of the game seems quite ridiculous
— Matt Lozar (@matt_lozar) March 29, 2024
Hannah Hidalgo has been playing with that nose ring for as long as I can remember but now it's suddenly a problem that needs to be removed?
— Kevin Pantoja (@the_kevstaaa) March 29, 2024
Hannah Hidalgo just missed 5 minutes of game time in 2Q because referees made her go and take out a nose ring. She’s had it in all season. This is absolute BS
— Anthony (@Anthooo815) March 29, 2024
The nose ring rule being enforced in the last few games of the entire season is pretty on par with how inconsistent these refs have been all year long.
— Camille Buxeda (@CamilleBuxeda) March 29, 2024
UPDATE: Per Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey was informed by officials that jewelry would be a point of emphasis during the Sweet 16.
Niele Ivey on Hannah Hidalgo: "She's had a nose ring the entire season. I wish we'd known that earlier."
Said she was told jewelry was a point of emphasis for officials in the Sweet 16.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 29, 2024
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
