A Summer of Gold and Growth
Coach Niele Ivey capped a whirlwind summer by guiding USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, a triumph that has set the tone for her upcoming tenure at Notre Dame.
Returning only three players, Ivey has turned her attention to integrating five freshmen and two transfers into a cohesive unit, emphasizing teaching and chemistry over raw talent.
Leadership and Chemistry
Senior guard Hannah Hidalgo has emerged as the team’s on‑court commander, organizing off‑day activities and driving the energy that has become the squad’s hallmark.
The newcomers — Jacy Abii, Madison St. Rose, Anaya Hardy, Isabella Sangha and Bella Ragone — bring a mix of skill sets, from Abii’s immediate impact to Sangha’s surprising progress and Hardy’s potential as an X‑factor post player.
With the season opener slated for Nov. 1 against Villanova in Rome, Ivey has roughly three and a half months to fine‑tune a roster that blends youthful enthusiasm with seasoned leadership, aiming to translate summer success into on‑court dominance.