THE GAME IS PART OF A WEEKEND SHOWCASE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX AND FEATURES A HOMECOMING FOR NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH NIELE IVEY AND CAL HEAD COACH CHARMIN SMITH
ST. LOUIS – September 15, 2022 – The St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Sports Commission are delighted to partner with the University of Notre Dame to welcome the Notre Dame women’s basketball team against the California Golden Bears in the first annual Citi Shamrock Classic at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Saturday, November 12. The Citi Shamrock Classic features a homecoming for both head coaches — Notre Dame is coached by St. Louisan Niele Ivey and Cal is led by fellow St. Louis native Charmin Smith.
Aside from the game between Notre Dame and Cal on Nov. 12, the Citi Shamrock Classic will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and the strides that have been made toward gender equity in women’s athletics, and collaborative thought leadership conversations on avenues to close the gender equity gap in college sports that still exists today. The day before the game, Notre Dame will host a luncheon and panel discussion featuring marquee speakers from the realm of business and sports focused on elevating women’s athletics, examining the reasons for underrepresentation of women in business and sports, and ideas on how to mentor young women to realize the significance of Title IX and gender equity across all of society.
“We are thrilled to partner with the St. Louis Blues and Enterprise Center to host the Citi Shamrock Classic,” said St. Louis Sports Commission Vice President Chris Roseman. “Coach Ivey and Coach Smith are legends whose basketball talents were honed on the courts of St. Louis, and we look forward to a wonderful game and celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX.”
Ivey won a state championship at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis before starring at Notre Dame and winning the 2001 NCAA Women’s Final Four title in St. Louis. “This is a full circle moment to come back home to St. Louis where my basketball journey began,” Ivey said. It’s an overwhelming feeling to think about the positive impact this will have in my community and for our sport. I hope to continue to inspire and empower the next generation of young leaders and athletes.”
Smith was a standout player at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, going on to a successful college career at Stanford where she appeared in three NCAA Women’s Final Fours. “Personally, this is a special opportunity for me, as this is my first time competing in St. Louis as a player or coach since I left for college nearly 30 years ago,” said Coach Smith. My club days in St. Louis are some of my fondest basketball memories and it will be great to experience this return with Niele. I’m so happy for her success as a player at Notre Dame and now as the head coach. This is where it all started for both of us and it’s an honor to have Cal participate in the inaugural year of the classic.”
The historic matchup will also mark the first live broadcast of a women’s college basketball game on NBC. Game tickets for the Citi Shamrock Classic will go on sale Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. CT at www.enterprisecenter.com/shamrock.