SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (April 24, 2024) – USA faced off against Canada in the Final at the Springfield Stop of the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series, ultimately falling short 20-18.
The championship was gritty and came down to the final moments. USA initially captured a 4-2 lead, courtesy of a 2-pointer from Hailey Van Lith. However, Canada mounted a late comeback, securing a 16-15 lead with just 2 minutes remaining, clinching a hard-fought 20-18 victory over the USA.
USA Basketball was represented by two teams at the Women’s Series opener, USA and Springfield, among the eight teams competing. The field also comprised athletes from Canada, France, Germany and Puerto Rico.
USA, consisting of Van Lith, Cierra Burdick, Lexie Hull and Rhyne Howard, played well in pool play with a 3-0 record. Securing the top spot in Pool B, USA earned an automatic bid into the semifinals.
Their journey began with a 21-13 victory over Calgary, with Howard contributing 11 points. In their following match against France, USA showcased resilience, rallying from an early deficit to secure a 15-11 win. They concluded pool play in style, defeating Friedberg 21-12. Howard led the charge, tallying 25 points across all pool play games.
Springfield, represented by Cameron Brink, Allisha Gray, Dearica Hamby and Linnae Harper, faced adversity in Pool A, finishing with a 1-2 record but securing a spot in the semifinals play-in.
Springfield began the play-in strong, leading 8-4 against France at the midway point of the 10-minute game. Leveraging their size advantage, Springfield controlled the pace and scored at will in the paint to secure the 17-12 victory.
However, in the semifinals, Springfield faced the top-seeded Canadian squad and fell short, 21-13. The loss concluded Springfield’s run.
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The FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series is dedicated to highlighting and advancing women's sports. It offers women a chance to play 3x3 at the highest competitive level regularly, representing a unique opportunity to bring new countries and players into the limelight and to recognize the best and upcoming players in the industry. This event will prepare and offer a fantastic show at the 3x3 World Cup and, later, the Olympic Games.
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.