Add another accomplishment onto the seemingly endless trophy case of Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey. This time, it’s a gold medal.
It’s been a very successful four months for Ivey, first leading the Irish to their first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance since 2019 in March, then leading team USA to its 12th consecutive championship in the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup Monday, June 15, in Irapuato, Mexico.
Ivey’s squad went a perfect 5-0 with a combined point differential of 291, outscoring its opponents 555-264. USA beat team Canada in the championship game 90-72, the sixth straight time the gold medal game has been decided between these two North American, bordering countries.
USA began AmeriCup play June 9 with a 113-47 win against Argentina, beat hosting Mexico 125-53 in its second game June 10, triumphed over Paraguay 123-41 in the final group phase game June 12 and beat Venezuela 104-51 in a June 14 semifinal.
Notre Dame reportedly has offers out to five of the U18 squad’s uncommitted roster members, including ESPN’s SCNEXT 100 Class of 2027 No. 1 Kaleena Smith, Class of 2027 No. 4 Jezelle “GG” Banks, Class of 2027 No. 8 Sydney Savoury, Class of 2027 No. 9 Jordyn Palmer and Class of 2027 No. 12 Ryan Carter. In the championship game, Smith led all scorers with 26 points, while Palmer put up 24 and Banks dropped 14.
Ivey also coached future Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rival Bella Flemings, the No. 18 Class of 2026 recruit who will join Kara Lawson’s Duke squad. Joining Ivey’s USA coaching staff as an assistant was fellow ACC rival, California head coach Charmin Smith.
Ivey was also coaching against Class of 2026 No. 83 Irish commit Isabella Sangha, who suited up for team Canada. In four games played, Sangha averaged 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest.
Prior to leading USA’s U18 team as its head coach, Ivey was an assistant on Indiana University head coach Teri Moren’s 2024 U18 staff and on Moren’s 2025 U19 staff, on both of which Ivey also earned gold medals. When Ivey was announced as USA’s head coach Feb. 25, she said the accomplishments was “one of her dreams,” one she wasn’t sure would ever be possible for her.
Five months later not only has the dream come true, but she has maximized the dream to its fullest potential. Now, it’s back to South Bend as the 2026-27 Irish have already begun summer workouts at Rolfs Athletic Hall.
Notre Dame opens its regular season Nov. 1 against Villanova in Rome, Italy, as part of the men’s/women’s Eternal City Tip-Off.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Niele Ivey leads USA Basketball to FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup championship
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
