USA Claim 11th Straight U18 Women's AmeriCup Gold Medal

24 June 2024

USA 80, Canada 69

View the USA-Canada box score here.

The United States won the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup gold medal with an 80-69 victory over Canada at Coliseo Bicentenario in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

The gold medal in is the USA’s 11th consecutive dating back to 2000. The United States is now 71-2 in U18 women’s competition.

Today’s game marked the 11th between the United States and Canada in U18 women’s tournaments. The Americans improved to 11-0 all-time.

Argentina defeated Brazil 73-66 for the bronze medal.

TEAM NOTES

For the Record Books: The USA finished 6-0, scoring 628 points through six games and winning each by an average of 67.8 points. The team's total points are the most all-time by a U.S. team at the event.

Keep it Interesante: With the game tied at 10 with 5:03 to go in the first quarter, the United States closed the period on a 13-4 advantage to take a 23-14 lead. The quarter featured 9 points off 5 Canada turnovers and the U.S. continued to capitalize in the paint (12 points) and off the offensive glass (6 OR, 10 points).

Canada didn’t break, coming back to tie the game at 36 toward the end of the second half before the USA took a 3-point lead into the locker room. At the 4:00 mark of the 3rd quarter, the U.S. led 49-47 before closing the quarter on a 9-2 run, fueled by an Edwards 3 and then 6 straight points from Kennedy Smith for a 58-51 USA advantage going into the last frame.

The first double-digit lead of the game for either team came after the U.S. moved a 60-57 lead to 69-59 on a Kayleigh Heckel 3-pointer with 4:54 to play. The Americans led by 7 points or more the rest of the way.

Dynamite D: The United States’ calling card was their defense, a point of emphasis and pride for the squad throughout the tournament. The U.S. held opponents to 21.8% (80-367 FG) from the field and 18.5% (20-108 3FG) from 3, while forcing 29.5 turnovers and capitalizing with 38.3 points scored on them. They also earned the edge over the opposition on the defensive glass, 35.2 to 21.2 DRPG.

Miss It, Make It: The Americans were determined on the offensive boards, continually creating second-chance opportunities for themselves throughout the tournament. Following tonight’s game, which include 17 offensive rebounds and 15 second chance points, the U.S. averaged 26.5 ORPG and 27.7 second chance points across six games.

PLAYER NOTES

Joyce for MVP: Joyce Edwards was named MVP of the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup after averaging 13.8 points (66.7% FG), 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 15.9 minutes.

In the final, Edwards was excellent on both sides of the ball. The first half, in 16:49, saw her contribute 7 points (2-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 2-3 FT), 7 rebounds and 3 steals, including the buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired in the first half to put the U.S. up 39-36. She added another 7 points in the 3rd quarter en route to finishing the game with 16. Tonight was her second double-double with a team-high 13 rebounds. She also led the team with 5 steals.

OK, Bet(ts): Sienna Betts, recognized as part of the All-Star 5 alongside Edwards, was a first half force for the USA again and again. Tonight was no different as she paced her squad with 8 points (4-6 FG), 3 rebounds (3 OR), 1 assist and 1 block in 7:14. A day prior, in the semis against Argentina, she posted 11 points (4-4 FG, 3-6 FT), 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 4:27 in the first.

Betts totaled 15 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in 27:42. In six starts, she averaged 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 14.7 minutes.

Keeping up with Kennedy: Smith provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring all 9 (4-5 FG, 1-1 3FG) of the USA’s bench points in the first half to go with 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 13:29. She added the USA’s last 6 points in the of the 3rd quarter and finished the night with a game-best-tying (personal-best) 18 points (8-13 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 27:29.