After eight combined pool play victories and five knockout triumphs, the 2024 USA 3x3 U23 National Teams secured first and second place finishes at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept.15.
The USA women captured their first gold medal at the event since its inception in 2019. The United States men, one year removed from their 2023 title, became the second federation to ever appear in the title game in back-to-back years in the tournament’s brief history, and finished second.
Captained by Azana Baines, Sania Feagin, Cotie McMahon and Harmoni Turner, the 2024 USA 3x3 Women’s U23 National Team flexed its muscle from start to finish.
In its final against the Netherlands, however, the United States came from behind to celebrate another win, this time accompanied by some hardware.
The USA opened with a 4-2 edge with a healthy combination of two-level scoring. The Dutch countered with an impressive 8-2 surge that transformed a neck and neck match into a four-point deficit.
Baines, Feagin and McMahon would score five 1-pointers to knot it at 11 before Turner, the USA’s most lethal outside threat, changed the title game’s course in its closing minutes. She nailed a pair of 2-pointers to push the Americans ahead four and essentially sealed the first title by a USA 3x3 Women’s U23 National Team in history.
The Netherlands and United States combined for five ties from tip to buzzer in the 18-15 contest. All six of Turner’s points came from beyond the arc while McMahon scored six and Feagin registered five before donning gold medals.
Before the confetti, the Americans squared off against France and Eve Wembanyama, sister of San Antonio Spurs’ big man Victor Wembanyama, in the quarterfinals.
Feagin, Baines and Turner executed on three straight scores to open action, but the French responded with a consistent stream of 1-point hoops to transform their deficit to one with over five minutes to spare.
Through a combination of outside snipes and inside hoops, the USA women rattled off a 7-2 surge in just over 60 seconds to establish a commanding 15-9 edge down the stretch. France tried to claw back, but the red, white and blue maintained its aggressiveness and strolled to a 21-11 win with over 2:30 minutes remaining on the game clock.
Turner drilled all four USA 2-pointers to notch 10 total points, Feagin added six and Baines scored four to round out the stat sheet.
Under two hours later, the ensemble laced up against China, a team which rattled off four wins in a row prior to the contest. Feagin and McMahon set the tone with three early points before all four scorers helped orchestrate a 6-2 run and elevate the quartet to a 9-2 advantage.
China’s 2-point capabilities brought their squad within four, 13-9, but the USA continued to punish down low to retake a sizable advantage. Feagin scored four of the final six points for the United States before her group closed it out 19-10 at the final buzzer.
Feagin hit seven 1-pointers, McMahon managed six tallies and Turner poured in a 1-pointer, 2-pointer and free throw for four points.
2024 USA 3x3 Men’s U23 National Team representatives John Butler Jr., Alex Fudge, David Johnson and Jameer Nelson Jr. also impressed en route to securing a second-place finish and second straight title game appearance.
In the first match following pool play, the squad dismantled China in what appeared to be a nail-biter early. The Chinese scored a 2-point field goal and inside bucket to establish a 3-1 edge in just over 60 ticks, but all four of the United States’ playmakers responded to flip the deficit into a three-tally lead, 7-4, with roughly six minutes to go.
Afterwards, Johnson put on his Steph Curry cape to supercharge his foursome’s offense. He netted three consecutive 2-pointers to push the USA ahead 14-6 with just under 4:00 minutes to play.
Fudge, Nelson Jr. and Johnson wrapped up the contest on the offensive end to captain their team to a 21-11 win with ample time remaining on the clock. Johnson dropped 11 points, eight of which arrived from the 2-point line, and Nelson Jr. and Fudge each scored four points.
Later against Spain in the semifinals, the USA extinguished any hopes of a six-point Spanish comeback through persistent, timely inside scoring. Despite being down 3-1 within the first 2:32, Fudge, Johnson and Nelson Jr. canned three 2-point looks to spur a 7-0 burst in just under 90 seconds.
The crew maintained a six-point lead until Spain responded with a 7-0 run, equipped with three 2-pointers, of its own to take a 12-11 edge. Five lead-changing sequences preceded the final buzzer, and the score seesawed until Nelson Jr. capitalized on a pair of free throws and Fudge made a 1-point bucket to make it 20-18 in the USA’s favor.
Spain scored once more, but Nelson Jr. ended the game at the 37-second mark to secure a spot in the championship round. He led all scorers with nine points, and both Fudge and Johnson finished with five.
The United States battled against unbeaten Germany in the finale. Their group cashed in on three 2-pointers within the first three minutes to establish a 9-3 advantage before the Americans answered with a swift 6-1 run to make it a 10-9 clash.
Germany regrouped, however, and made three free throws and a 2-pointer to make it 15-9 with just under five minutes to play. The effort would prove the difference, and the United States fell 21-13 with over three minutes on the game clock. Nelson Jr. scored a team-best seven points while Fudge and Johnson both had three.