After a historic start to the 2024-25 season, Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey has been named to the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Watch List. Ivey has led her team to a 23-2 and 14-0 start along with a No. 1 ranking in both the AP and Coaches Polls. It’s Notre Dame’s first time at the top of the AP Poll since Jan. 21, 2019. The Irish are currently projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and No. 4 overall.
Notre Dame ranks well in the vast majority of categories statistically this year, too. The Irish lead the ACC in assists per game (18.3), field goal percentage (50.0), rebounds per game (43.8), rebound margin (10.7), steals per game (11.6), three point percentage (42.0) and three point percentage defense (42.0). The Irish lead the nation in three point percentage, rank fifth nationally in rebounds per game and have the No. 4 scoring offense in the nation (86.7).
A former point guard herself, Ivey has helped coach All-Americans Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles to already historic seasons. Hidalgo ranks second nationally with 24.9 points per game and 4.0 steals per game. Miles is the only player in the country this year with three triple-doubles and posted back-to-back triple-doubles for the first time in ACC history (Loyola MD and Virginia). She is also leading the conference with 6.2 assists per game and is the league’s leading guard from the floor shooting-wise (52.8). Miles is the only player in the nation averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game.
Up next, Ivey and the Irish hit the road for games at Miami on Thursday and No. 13 NC State on Sunday.