Lima, Peru • July 27-29, 2019

It was a perfect showing by the U.S. 3x3 Women’s Basketball Team at the 2019 Pan American Games. Finishing 7-0 over the course of the three-day competition in Lima, Peru, the U.S. women won the first ever Pan American Games 3x3 gold medal. With the U.S. 3x3 men also capturing gold, the United States swept the competition.

The inaugural team featured four USA Basketball gold medalists, including the University of Connecticut’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams and the University of Oregon’s Ruthy Hebard and Sabrina Ionescu. The team was selected by the USA Basketball 3x3 National Team Selection Committee after participating in the 2019 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals.

The women’s gold medal made it a sweep for the USA at the PAG 3x3 competition, as the U.S. men won gold in the 3x3 competition as well.

The U.S. women racked up three wins on its first day, defeating Argentina 21-15, Uruguay 21-5 and Brazil 21-7. Against Argentina, Hebard and Ionescu had nine points apiece, while Nelson-Ododa swatted five shots. Neither the USA nor Argentina led by more than three points in the contest until the final minute, when the USA converted on all of its final six free throws to go ahead 20-15 with 40.0 seconds left. Ionescu pulled up and drained a jump shot with 20 seconds on the clock that sealed the USA’s win.

In the USA’s win over Uruguay, the red, white and blue led 9-5 with six minutes to play, and from there held Uruguay scoreless while racing to 21 points to win the game with 2:00 left. The USA was balanced in its scoring against Uruguay, with Hebard finishing with seven points, Ionescu adding six and Nelson-Ododa and Williams each adding four points.

Wrapping up the day with a dominating 21-7 win over Brazil, the USA shot a sizzling 72.0% from inside the arc, and Hebard led the way with 10 points, followed by Ionescu with six. The USA jumped ahead 7-1, and Brazil never threatened.

The U.S. remained undefeated through the end of preliminary round play with an 18-14 win over Venezuela and a 21-7 victory over Dominican Republic. By finishing 5-0, the USA earned the No. 1 seed for the medal round semifinals.

The USA started its final day of preliminary round action with a 18-14 win against Venezuela. The game was 12-12 with 2:17 to play, when Williams sank a 2-pointer, and the U.S. took control. After another Williams score, all three U.S. teammates added points to push the lead to 18-12 with 44.0 seconds on the clock. Venezuela scored a 2-pointer to close out the game, but the USA owned the win. Hebard and Ionescu each scored seven, and Nelson-Ododa and Williams added two points apiece.

Against Dominican Republic, the USA maintained a small lead until midway through the game, when it put together a 12-1 run to seal the 21-7 win with 2:52 remaining.  Hebard and Williams each finished with seven points and Ionescu added six.

It was all U.S. in the semifinal against Brazil. Behind three points from Hebard and two from Williams, the U.S. sprinted out to a 5-0 lead and rolled on to record a lopsided 21-5 victory and advance to the gold medal game. Holding a 9-4 lead against Brazil, Nelson-Ododa scored four of the USA’s next five points as the U.S. pushed its advantage to 14-4. With the U.S. leading 15-5, Ionescu capped off the game with three-straight 2-pointers to earn the USA the 21-5 win with 3:09 remaining on the clock. The USA made 60.0 % from the field and limited Brazil to 17.4% shooting. Ionescu finished with nine points, Nelson added five, Hebard scored four and Williams tossed in three points.

Argentina opened the gold medal game with the first three points and led 9-8 with 4:04 to play. Nelson-Ododa tied the game at 9-9. Williams scored and was fouled and made one free throw to push the U.S. ahead 11-9. Owning a 13-12 lead with 1:55 remaining, Ionescu hit a 2, and with 1:31 left Hebard cushioned the lead when she scored, was fouled and made two free throws. Argentina cut it to 19-17 with 39 seconds to play, however, the U.S. was not to be denied. Ionescu made one free throw to up the advantage to 20-17, and the USA earned gold when Ionescu found Hebard inside for the game-winning point with :08 on the clock. Ionescu and Hebard scored seven points each, Williams added five points and Nelson-Ododa tossed in two points.

2019 USA WOMEN'S PAN AMERICAN GAMES 3X3 ROSTER

2019 USA PAG 3x3 CUMULATIVE STATISTICS