The 2023 USA 3×3 Men’s and Women’s AmeriCup Teams each finished with perfect 2-0 records in pool play at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup on Saturday at DISTRICTO T-Mobile in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The U.S. squads advance to bracket play Sunday, beginning with the quarterfinals.
The women came out with a statement win in their first game of the weekend, defeating Uruguay 17-12. The team imposed their will defensively early, holding Uruguay to two points through the first half of the contest. Offensively, the team was propelled by stellar performances from Los Angeles Sparks teammates Dearica Hamby and Katie Lou Samuelson. The duo combined for 15 points with Hamby, a two-time WNBA All-Star (2021, 2022) and Sixth Women of the Year (2019, 2020) making her 3×3 debut, leading the way with nine. Samuelson contributed six and added two assists.
The U.S. took a 21-10 win against the Dominican Republic. The Americans led 4-3 before Kelsey Mitchell kick started an 8-0 run at the free-throw line. The USA scored on three consecutive possessions before the Dominicans were whistled for an unsportsmanlike penalty, allowing Camille Zimmerman to cap the run at the line. The game ended with a Hamby layup minutes later.
Hamby scored 12 points and finished shooting 9-of-10 from the field. Zimmerman followed behind with four points, while Mitchell added two and led the team in rebounds with five.
The men opened with a 22-13 win over Jamaica. The two teams traded the lead in the first three minutes before Trey Bardsley scored five-straight points, turning a 6-5 lead into a 11-5 advantage. The game ended with a Mitch Hahn 2-pointer. Bardsley scored a team-high 10points while Hahn added four. Devin Cannady and Bryce Wills also scored four each.
Cannady and Wills were more involved in the next game, helping the USA defeat Argentina, 21-12. The two opened the game with a 9-1 run. Cannady made multiple 2-pointers and Wills brought the crowd to their feet with a monster alley-oop during the stretch.
Wills ended with a team-best nine points and Cannady was close behind with seven. Hahn led the team in rebounding with eight boards while Bardsley contributed three key assists.
In Sunday’s quarterfinal, the women square off against Ecuador at 1:50 p.m. ET. The men face the Dominican Republic at 2:40 p.m. ET. The 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup can be streamed on FIBA 3×3’s YouTube.
Different than 5-on-5, 3×3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basket, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-point field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.
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