Niele Ivey, the head women's basketball coach at the University of Notre Dame, captured her first championship as a head coach when the United States defeated Canada 90‑72 in the final of the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup.
A Historic Streak
The U.S. squad continued its reign by posting an average margin of victory of 68.3 points over the first four games of the tournament, underscoring a level of dominance that left opponents scrambling to keep pace.
Ivey entered the tournament having served as an assistant coach on gold‑medal‑winning teams in the 2024 U18 AmeriCup and the 2025 U19 World Cup. Her promotion to head coach marks a milestone, placing her alongside Carol Owens as only the second Irish‑heritage coach to lead the U.S. to a senior gold medal.
Canadian forward Isabella Sangha, a Notre Dame signee, contributed to the Canadian side with averages of 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game across four appearances in Irapuato. Though the hosts settled for silver, Sangha’s performance highlighted the growing talent pipeline crossing the border.
The victory not only extends the United States’ unparalleled run in the competition but also reinforces the effectiveness of the USA Basketball development pathway, which blends collegiate coaching expertise with elite player exposure.