Nov. 12-14, 2021 • Miami, Florida

The USA team of Cierra Burdick, Blake Dietrick, Haley Gorecki and Brionna Jones, led by USA coach Joe Lewandowski (Point Park University), swept the competition at the inaugural FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup that was played Nov. 12-14, 2021, at Bayfront Park in Miami.

In its first game on Nov. 13, the USA held Trinidad and Tobago scoreless for the first 2:24 while jumping out to a 4-0 lead. After Trinidad and Tobago’s first score, Dietrick sank the first 2-pointer of the game, and the USA raced ahead 16-1. Trinidad and Tobago scored its second and final point at 5:14, and it took the USA just another 1:38 to tally eight points and end the game. Gorecki, who was playing on her birthday, capped the victory with the USA’s fifth 2-pointer at 3:36 for the 22-2 win. The USA forced nine turnovers in the game, while Gorecki shot 3-of-6 from 2-point and finished with seven points; Jones scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds; Dietrick made the USA’s other 2-pointers and finished with five points and three assists; and Burdick contributed three points and three rebounds.

In its second contest on Nov. 13, the USA took advantage of its size inside the paint, and the 6-foot-3 Jones led with 11 points and seven rebounds; followed by five points and six rebounds from Dietrick; four points and six rebounds from Burdick; and two points and five rebounds from Gorecki. Similar to its first win, the USA held Argentina scoreless for the first 2:10 of the contest, and then only gave up one more field goal, which came at 4:21, to bring the score to 13-2 in the USA’s favor. The USA made its only two 2-pointers in the final few minutes, the second of which came from Burdick and sealed the 22-2 win with 1:32 left on the clock.

Meeting Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals on Nov. 14, the USA was in control throughout a 21-7 win over. After jumping ahead 6-1 lead, Dominican Republic came within three points, 7-4 at 7:02, but a 5-0 run gave the USA a 12-4 lead and the game's momentum. Dominican Republic tried to slow the USA down by fouling, but the USA shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Six of those free throws came from Jones, who led the USA with 11 points in the game. Gorecki scored five points to go with a team-high five rebounds; Dietrick contributed three points; and Burdick tallied two points and three rebounds.

The USA's semifinal contest against Puerto Rico on Nov. 14 was tight through the first half, and the score was 10-9 in the USA's favor at 6:38. The USA launched an 8-0 run, however, to turn the tide and lead 18-9 at 3:52. Jones ended the game with a score inside at 3:02 that gave the USA the 21-11 victory. Burdick finished with seven points and five rebounds; Jones had six points; Dietrick scored five points and collected three rebounds; and Gorecki contributed three points and four rebounds.

In the 21-9 gold medal win over Brazil on Nov. 14, the USA blew the game open with an 8-0 run that culminated with a 2-pointer from Gorecki that brought the score to 10-2 in in the USA’s favor at 7:06. The closest Brazil got from that point on was five points, 14-9 at 4:58, but the USA held Brazil scoreless for the remainder of the game. The USA compiled seven unanswered points and secured the win with a Gorecki 2-pointer at 2:05.

Jones had seven points and four rebounds in the finals; Burdick finished with six points and six rebounds; Gorecki contributed five points and three rebounds; Dietrick scored three points and grabbed three rebounds.

The USA’s Jones, who led the women’s event in scoring with 8.2 points per game, was named tournament MVP, while Brazil’s Sassa Fausto Goncalves and Canada’s Michelle Plouffe rounded out the women’s all-tournament team.

Canada (4-1) beat Puerto Rico (2-3) 18-12 in the bronze medal game.

The 2021 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup gold medal qualified the U.S. women for the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, however, the American women already were qualified by virtue of the USA’s gold medal finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games 3x3 tournament.

Likewise, the USA 3x3 Men’s AmeriCup Team also won the gold medal at the event to qualify for the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, despite already being qualified based on the USA’s 3x3 federation ranking points as of Nov. 1, 2021.

2021 USA 3x3 WOMEN'S AMERICUP TEAM ROSTER

2021 USA 3x3 WOMEN'S AMERICUP CUMULATIVE STATISTICS