Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo told reporters she sees Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes as a Caitlin Clark-level scorer, highlighting her ability to dominate at all three levels of the court ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup. Hidalgo specifically referenced Blakes' 27 points per game scoring average and her SEC Player of the Year season, including multiple 50-point games. Blakes, in turn, praised Hidalgo's defensive prowess and their shared ability to create scoring opportunities.

Their matchup carries extra significance as this is their first college meeting, though they previously competed together on Team USA and faced each other in high school. Hidalgo's Notre Dame team needed an upset win over Ohio State to reach the Sweet 16, while Vanderbilt is in its first Sweet 16 since 2009, a rise Blakes attributes to her team's growing respect. The roles are reversed with Notre Dame as the underdog.