Show summary Hide summary
The United States completed another chapter of sustained supremacy at the FIBA U-18 Women’s AmeriCup on Monday, beating Canada 90-72 in the gold-medal game in Irapuato, Mexico. The win extends a run of titles that underscores the depth of the U.S. youth program and spotlights several prospects likely to impact college and professional rosters in coming years.
After a close opening quarter — the Americans led 24-21 — the U.S. pulled away, outscoring Canada 66-51 over the final three periods to secure a comfortable victory. The result marks Team USA’s 12th consecutive gold at the AmeriCup and the nation’s 13th overall since the competition began in 1988.
Architectural Digest crowns Oklahoma river city the state’s most picturesque town
I-35 southbound crash kills one in train collision near SE 15th Street
Key performances that decided the final
The title game was driven by two primary scorers and a steady supporting cast. In the final:
- Kaleena Smith — 26 points; tournament leader in minutes (24.1), points per game (19.8) and assists (6.4). She also produced a 30-point outing earlier in the event against Mexico.
- Jordyn Palmer — 24 points, 13 rebounds and five steals in the final; named the tournament MVP. Across five games she averaged 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 steals.
- GG Banks — 14 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the gold-medal game; averaged 13.8 points and 6.2 assists per contest during the tournament.
- Bella Flemings — posted a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in the group-stage win over Argentina, adding frontcourt balance for the U.S.
Palmer called the recognition rewarding but emphasized the collective effort, saying that individual honors come because the team functioned well together. Coach Niele Ivey highlighted the squad’s resilience and said the players were proud to represent the country and take the trophy home.
Stat lines that underline the dominance
Beyond the final, the Americans’ numbers across the tournament painted a picture of overwhelming control. Team USA finished 5-0, averaging 111 points per game and beating opponents by an average margin of 58.2 points. Shooting efficiency was strong as well, with an overall field-goal percentage of 47.2% and 52.2% on two-point attempts.
Those figures help explain the consistent blowouts: balanced scoring, high assist totals and defensive pressure produced lopsided scorelines throughout the week. Canada reached the final after a deep run, but could not match the U.S. pace once the game opened up in the second quarter.
What this means going forward
The AmeriCup served as both a title defense and a showcase. For the United States, the victory reaffirms a pipeline that turns elite high-school talent into international winners—players who will likely figure prominently in NCAA lineups and eventually professional ranks. For other national programs in the region, the result is a reminder of the gap to close at the under-18 level.
The tournament ended in Irapuato, but the story matters beyond Mexico: these performances will influence recruiting attention, scouting reports and the next generation of team-building decisions for college coaches and national-team staff alike.
