Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey is preparing for the upcoming AmeriCup trials, where she’ll serve as an assistant coach for Team USA—and she’ll be joined by one of her star players.
Ivey, 47, is entering her first season on the national team’s coaching staff after assisting with the U18 squad last year. Meanwhile, Fighting Irish guard Hannah Hidalgo has been selected as one of 21 players invited to try out for the AmeriCup roster, a recognition from the national team selection committee. Ivey expressed her excitement and pride on social media.
“It’s such a blessing to be part of @usabasketball and to support and watch Hannah compete,” she posted Thursday on X. “Proud of you @HannahHidalgo 🇺🇸 ☘️ 💚.”
The trials began Tuesday. If Hidalgo performs well, she could earn a spot on the final 12-player roster for the FIBA AmeriCup tournament in Santiago, Chile, taking place June 28–July 6, according to On3’s Tyler Horka. Hidalgo is no stranger to international play, having won gold medals with Team USA at the U17 World Cup in 2022 and the U19 World Cup in 2023.
Her impressive performances earned her the 2023 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award, after she averaged 10.7 points and 5.4 assists per game during the U19 World Cup, helping lead her team to victory in Madrid.
During the same tournament, Hidalgo set new records for single-game steals (8) and assists (13), securing a spot on the All-Star 5 team.
