Aug. 24-29, 2021 • Debrecen, Hungary

The USA women captured gold at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup gold medal with a 6-1 record from Aug. 24-29 in Debrecen, Hungary, including team members Janiah Barker, Ayanna Patterson, Kiki Rice and Mikaylah Williams, USA coach Nick LoGalbo and USA assistant coach Kelly Carruthers.

The USA men also won gold at the 2019 & 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups, so it marked the first time the USA had swept the podium at consecutive events.

The USA women’s first game on Aug. 24 also was the first game of the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup, and the USA defeated Belarus 19-13. After a close start, the USA got some separation with a score from Barker and free throws from Rice to go ahead 9-5 at 5:34. The USA pushed its lead to five before Belarus cut the defitcit to three points, 15-12, with a 2-pointer at 2:11. The USA responded and restored an 18-13 margin with 22 seconds remaining. Rice, who scored seven points, put the final point on the board with a free throw as the USA earned the 19-13 win. Rice had seven points in the game, Williams finished with five, Barker scored four and Patterson added three points.

The USA made five 2-pointers on the way to a 21-7 win over Slovenia on Aug. 24 that ended with 3:41 on the clock. The USA raced out to a 5-0 lead, and while Slovenia’s first four points came from behind the arc, the USA built a 15-4 advantage by 5:31. The USA outscored Slovenia 6-3 over the next two minutes, and back-to-back scores from Patterson ended the contest, 21-7. Williams had 10 points.

The USA defeated Mongolia 21-8 on Aug. 26. The USA led 3-0 early and only improved its margin from there. At least five of the USA’s scores were set up by offensive rebounds. Williams made the USA’s only 2s in the game, including the game-winner with 2:22 on the clock for nine points in the 21-8 win. Rice added three points, while Barker had two points. All three of Mongolia’s 2-pointers came from 5-foot-6 guard Enkhsolongo Ganbat.

The USA fell to Russia 2017 on Aug. 26 in its final preliminary round game. The USA started with momentum, racing out to a 7-1 lead. Russia, which was playing to not to be eliminated from the quarterfinals, made its first run to cut the margin to 7-6 at 4:57. Each time the USA pulled away, Russia found a way to stay close. Barker scored a layup at 4:06 to put the USA in front 11-6, and after 2-pointers from each side, the USA led 13-8 with just over two minutes to play. Russia scored twice to cut the lead to 15-13 with 1:14 left to play. The USA went ahead by four points, 17-13, but that is when Russia made its game-changing rally, scoring the final seven points for the comeback win. Russia’s final four points from the free throw line, which were scored in the last eight seconds, were followed by it getting the ball back, because the USA had reached the 10 foul limit. The USA committed its seventh foul and entered the penalty at the 1:51 mark, while Russia entered the bonus with six minutes to play, and then committed its 10^th foul with 1:40 left in the game. Williams had six points, Barker had five, Rice had four and Patterson added two points.

With a three-way tie atop the Pool B standings between the USA, Russia and Belarus at 3-1, the USA’s 78 total points were enough to claim the group’s No.1 seed into the quarterfinals. Russia scored just enough points against the USA to secure the No. 2 seed from Pool B, and Belarus ended its participation in the tournament.

The USA was in control throughout its 18-4 quarterfinal win over Estonia on Aug. 28. Williams put five of the USA’s first six points on the board, including a 2-pointer that made it 6-0 in the USA’s favor at the first TV timeout at 6:42. Estonia managed a free throw at 5:32, which made the score 8-1, but the USA did not let Estonia score from the field for the first 7:26. By the time Estonia connected on a made basket at 2:34, the USA led 16-2. Estonia made two more scores to make it 16-4, but Barker and Williams each added a point for the USA as the game clock expired on the 18-4 win. Williams had eight points, Rice finished with five points, Barker had three and Patterson contributed two points.

In a tightly contested semifinal, the USA held on for the 15-14 win against Germany on Aug. 29. Germany went ahead 3-0, but the score was tied at 5-5 at 5:43. The USA twice pushed its advantage to five points, including on a 2-pointer from Williams at 2:24 to make it 12-7 and at 2:06, when a score from Patterson made it 13-8. Germany scored and hit a 2-pointer to start its comeback attempt, trailing 10-13 at 1:17. Rice scored for the USA, but Germany added consecutive points to make it 14-12 at 25 seconds. Williams made a layup coming out of a timeout, and the U.S. led 15-12 at 16 seconds. Germany made a 2-pointer with one second left in the game to make it 15-14, and the game clock expired on the USA victory. Williams had eight points, Barker and Rice each scored three points and Patterson added one point.

The USA claimed gold medal on Aug. 28 with a 21-14 win over Spain that concluded with 3:44 left on the clock. The game was tied seven times in the first 5:10 and neither team led by more than two points until it was 14-14 with 4:50 on the clock. Williams scored four points, followed by a score from Barker, and the USA led 19-14 at 4:10. The under-four-minute timeout was called at 3:46. Williams stood at the top of the arc to enter the ball, and instead she pulled up to sink a 2-pointer to end the game with 3:44 left on the clock. Williams had 10 points, Barker scored six, Rice added three and Patterson had two points.

2021 USA WOMEN'S 3x3 U18 WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER

2021 FIBA WOMEN'S 3x3 U18 WORLD CUP SKILLS CONTESTS MEDALISTS