ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 19, 2025) – In one of the first circuits for the USA in the 2025 FIBA 3x3 Women's Series, the Americans earned a second-place finish at the Ulaanbaatar Stop less than two weeks ahead of the 2025 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
In their first taste of the half-court as a unit, 2025 USA 3x3 Women’s National Teamers Morgan Maly, Mikaylah Williams, Sahara Williams and Sarah Strong donned the red, white and blue in Mongolia. To open the circuit, the United States collected victories against both Australia and Amgalan U24 in group stage action to claim the top seed in Pool C. The U.S. defeated Japan 21-9 in the quarterfinals.
To qualify for the Final, the USA dispatched of Germany 19-18 in its most competitive contest of the two-day circuit. After going back-and-forth to open the game, United States executed a lethal offensive stretch within a 38-second period to transform a 13-10 climb into a 15-13 cushion.
Germany immediately nailed a 2-pointer to tie it at 15 but Strong bulled her way inside with a jump hook and right-handed layup to push the USA ahead 17-15 with roughly 45 seconds to spare. Germans would drill a 2-pointer to tie it at 17 and ultimately send the heavyweight fight to overtime.
In a first-to-two format, the two ensembles opened extra time with a pair of layups before Mikaylah Williams zipped a pass to a wide-open Strong in the paint for the game-winning hoop. In thrilling fashion, the Americans advanced to their first final of the 2025.
In a rematch of the first pool play test, the Americans met the Australians in the event’s final. Unlike their previous four games, the USA women ignited their offensive attack with three straight 2-point looks to secure a 7-3 advantage before the 7:00-minute mark.
Sahara Williams and Maly - who netted two of those looks from deep - stoked the fire with three more buckets to extend the Americans’ lead to five, 11-6. The United States held a five-tally advantage until the Australians manufactured a 7-2 run in roughly 60 seconds to bring it to 17-17.
Mikaylah Williams scored the final two layups for the Americans but Australia would end the game on a 3-2 run to pocket first place with a final of 20-19. Maly notched seven points, Mikaylah Williams recorded six and Sahara Williams wound up with four in a valiant effort in the title game.
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