If you’ve been following beach volleyball even casually, you’ve likely heard the name Nicole McNamara. Nicole McNamara is a Canadian beach volleyball player best known as one half of the McNamara twins, a UCLA star, and a key figure in Canada’s recent surge on the sand. She pairs elite court IQ with a lefty swing, strong side-out consistency, and a résumé that turns heads.
Who is Nicole McNamara and why does she matter in beach volleyball?
Nicole Carol McNamara (born August 1, 1997) hails from British Columbia, Canada, and competes internationally with her twin sister, Megan. Together, they’ve moved seamlessly from junior medals to collegiate dominance and into the professional ranks. Their rise is a model of steady development: junior podiums, NCAA titles, then international breakthroughs.
Image Source: Wikipedia
What did Nicole McNamara achieve at UCLA?
At UCLA, the McNamaras became program pillars. They won back-to-back NCAA team championships (2018 and 2019) and piled up personal accolades, including AVCA All-America honors and, for Nicole, the 2018 Pac-12 Player of the Year. Their court-one results defined the Bruins’ identity in that era and helped set records for wins and win streaks at the top flight.
How did the McNamaras perform on the world stage early on?
Before college stardom, Nicole and Megan earned silver at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and bronze at the 2014 FIVB U19 Worlds, signposts that they were already competitive against the best teens on earth. Those medals foreshadowed a pipeline of podium-level play that would carry into their senior careers.
Image Source: Volleyball World
What are Nicole McNamara’s signature strengths and playing style?
Nicole plays the right side and swings left-handed, a combination that creates unique angles on offense and passing patterns in transition. She’s known for clean first contacts, read-based defense, and—when paired with Megan—exceptional twin chemistry that translates into efficient side-outs and calm, late-set execution. (Her own description of returning to the World Tour even nods to being the right-side/lefty hitter.)
What notable titles did Nicole McNamara win beyond the NCAA?
In 2018, the twins capped an undefeated run at the FISU World University Beach Volleyball Championship, beating Spain in three sets for the title. The same year included strong results across North American events and set the stage for their professional push.
What has she done since college?
Like many athletes navigating COVID-era schedules, the McNamaras faced a disrupted transition but returned to the Beach World Tour in 2021. More recently, Nicole has balanced high-performance ambitions with entrepreneurship and community roots, including a Vancouver-based skincare studio FaceClub (she’s a licensed facialist) and content that blends high-performance sport with wellness.
Nicole McNamara’s quick career snapshot
- Nationality: Canadian; twin partner Megan McNamara.
- Collegiate: UCLA Bruins; 2018 & 2019 NCAA champions; 2018 Pac-12 Player of the Year.
- Junior Highlights: 2014 YOG silver, 2014 U19 Worlds bronze.
- University World Title: 2018 FISU World University Champions (undefeated run).
- Pro/World Tour: Returned post-hiatus in 2021; right-side, left-handed attacker.
FAQs about Nicole McNamara
1. Is Nicole McNamara still playing professionally?
Yes—after a COVID-disrupted stretch, Nicole and Megan returned to the World Tour in 2021 and have continued to compete while building projects off the court. That balance between competition and entrepreneurship has defined the latest chapter of her career.
2. Who is Nicole McNamara’s partner?
Her longtime partner is her identical twin, Megan McNamara. Their sync—years of reps and shared instincts—shows up in first-ball side-outs and momentum control late in sets, which is why they thrived on UCLA’s court one and beyond.
3. What are Nicole McNamara’s biggest career highlights?
Top-line highlights include two NCAA team titles (2018, 2019) with UCLA, 2018 Pac-12 Player of the Year, 2014 Youth Olympic silver, 2014 U19 World bronze, and the 2018 FISU World University Championship. Together, these show consistent excellence from junior to college to international play.
4. Where can I follow Nicole McNamara today?
Nicole shares updates on training, wellness, and her studio FaceClub on Instagram. It’s a good window into her transition from full-time national-team grind to a broader athlete-entrepreneur profile rooted in Vancouver.
So, where is Nicole McNamara headed next?
Nicole McNamara carved out a rare path: junior medals, college domination, and a measured pro run that survived a global shutdown. With her twin synergy, lefty swing, and proven big-match calm, she remains one of Canada’s most recognizable names on the sand. Whether she’s chasing results, mentoring the next wave, or scaling FaceClub, Nicole’s mix of performance and purpose keeps her relevant — and worth watching as Canadian beach volleyball eyes its next major moment.
Her journey also reflects a broader trend in modern sport, where athletes like Slovenian cyclist Urška Žigart show how passion, perseverance, and reinvention define success beyond medals. Much like Žigart’s steady rise in European cycling, Nicole’s career proves that growth in elite sport isn’t always about overnight breakthroughs — it’s about evolving, adapting, and continuing to make an impact season after season.
