SANTIAGO, Chile (Oct. 21, 2023) – The 2023 USA 3x3 Men’s and Women’s Pan American Teams opened the 2023 Pan American Games with a pair of pool play victories on Saturday at Estadio Español in Santiago, Chile. The USA is the defending men’s and women’s gold medalists as 3x3 debuted at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
The U.S. women never trailed against the Dominican Republic in the 22-11 win. Blake Dietrick scored on the first possession and the USA raced to a 10-3 lead in the first three minutes of play. Azurá Stevens led the Americans with 10 points, including her own 3-0 run in the middle of a 6-0 U.S. spurt midway through the game. Cierra Burdick was second on the team with five points.
A Dietrick 2-pointer gave the USA a double-digit lead 17-7 with just under four minutes left in the game. Lexie Hull ended the contest with 3:07 on the clock with a 2-pointer, her second of the game.
The men had a quick start in their 22-8 triumph over El Salvador, jumping to a 6-0 lead in the first minute of action. The U.S. hit seven 2-pointers in the game, led by four from Jimmer Fredette. Fredette had nine points in the game, including the game-ending bucket.
The game featured an 8-0 American run just before the 5:00 minute mark on the clock as well as a 7-0 run to close the game. Dylan Travis was second on the squad in scoring with six points and Canyon Barry was just behind with four. Kareem Maddox scored three points but his interior defensive presence was key to holding El Salvador to five baskets in the game.
The American men and women conclude pool play on Sunday. The men square off against Mexico at 12:00 p.m. ET and then the women play Mexico at 2:00 p.m. ET. The top two teams from each of the four pools advance to bracket play with the quarterfinals tipping later in the day.
The 2023 Pan American Games will stream for free on the Panam Sports Channel mobile and television application, panamsportschannel.org and YouTube.com/Panamsports. For more information on the Pan American Games, click here.
Different than 5-on-5, 3x3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basket, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-point field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.