June 28-July 2, 2017 • Chengdu, China

The USA returned from the 2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Chengdu, China, with a perfect, 7-0 record and a gold medal -- the USA women’s third such finish at the event.

The team included Janelle Bailey, Aquira DeCosta, Destiny Littleton and Christyn Williams. While DeCosta and Williams were rising high school seniors, Bailey (North Carolina) and Littleton (Texas) were headed off to college that summer.

The team earned the right to represent the USA at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup after winning the 2017 USA Basketball Women’s 3x3 U18 National Tournament April 8-9 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

DeCosta, who scored 35 points, was named MVP, and she was joined on the three-member, all-tournament team by Bailey, who finished as the event’s leading scorer with 40 points, and the Czech Republic’s Simona Růžková.

In the USA’s opening game on June 29, a 13-9 victory over Hungary, the USA trailed 4-0 before mounting a 7-1 run behind  2-pointers from Littleton and Williams. A DeCosta 2-pointer with 3:34 to go gave the USA a three-point lead, and a Williams’ buzzer-beater crept the margin up to four points, 11-7, with about three minutes left. Bailey scored three buckets in the final three minutes to close the door on the game. Bailey and Williams had four points each.

In a 21-15 win over Japan on June 29, the USA jumped out to a 5-0 advantage and never relinquished the lead. Japan narrowed the gap to 7-6 with seven minutes to play, but two DeCosta and-one conversions put the USA up 15-9. After Bailey went for four-consecutive scores, Littleton finished the game with a layup with 45 seconds to go. DeCosta led the charge with eight points, while Bailey added seven points and Littleton finished with six.

Meeting Switzerland on July 1, the USA wasted little time in jumping out in front before recording a 19-11 win. The USA began with four quick points, but the Swiss tied the game at 5-5 with 7:15 to play. A Williams jumper and a DeCosta layup provided some separation, and Bailey scored the next five points for the USA to push the lead to 13-8 with 2:52 remaining. Bailey finished with nine points and Williams added six.

In a 20-11 win against Australia on July 1, the USA showcased its perimeter play, scoring 14 points on jumpers alone. Littleton gave the USA an early, 3-2 lead with a 2-pointer at the 8:45 mark. Both sides traded baskets until a Williams jumper levelled the score, 7-7, with 5:32 remaining. Two DeCosta buckets followed by another Littleton 2-pointer put the USA up 11-9, and the USA never relinquished the lead, holding Australia scoreless for the final 2:40 of the game. The USA’s perimeter play combined for the team’s final 15 points, led by DeCosta’s seven points, while Littleton and Williams dropped in six points apiece.

In quarterfinal action on July 2, the USA topped France 18-14 to advance. France jumped to an early, 5-3 lead, but the USA put together a 5-0 run to pull in front 8-5. France hit two more 2s in a 6-1 run, and with about 4:00 to play, the Americans trailed 11-9. With 3:50 remaining, Littleton converted a 3-point play after being fouled from beyond the arc, putting the USA in the lead for good, 12-11. With the score 14-13, the USA closed out the contest with a 4-1 spurt for an 18-14 win. Littleton and Williams contributed six points apiece.

In the USA’s 17-10 win over Russia in the semifinals on July 2, Russia held an early, 4-3 lead, but a 5-1 run that included three points from DeCosta, gave the USA an 8-5 advantage at 4:04. After a Russian free throw at 3:32 brought the score to 8-6, the USA went on a 7-0 run, and with 2:10 to play the Americans were firmly in grasp of the game, 15-6, and cruised in for the win.

In the 21-14 gold-medal win against Czech Republic on July 2, the USA jumped to a 7-2 lead. Czech closed the gap, however, with a 5-0 run to pull to make it 7-6 at 6:12. The game remained close, and with 3:30 to play was knotted 13-all. DeCosta and Littleton each scored, and with 2:18 on the clock, Czech picked up its final point of the game to bring the score to 15-14. From there it was all USA. Bailey sealed the golden victory with 43.6 seconds left on the clock.

Russia defeated Hungary 12-8 for the bronze medal.

DeCosta won a bronze medal in the skills contest and became the first USA U18 woman to medal in a 3x3 skills contest.

2017 USA WOMEN'S 3x3 U18 WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER

2017 FIBA WOMEN'S 3x3 U18 WORLD CUP SKILLS CONTESTS MEDALISTS