Recapping Final Team USA 3x3 Pool Play Action

The United States men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball teams competed in their final matchups of pool play on August 3 and August 4, respectively.

A lot rode on those 10-minute games. Where each 3x3 squad finished in the standings, and if a trip to the semifinals was within reach were all on the line from the first check ball.

The women’s 3x3 team continued to play well, as it defeated China in its final pool play game, which then qualified the Americans for the play-in round. Team USA ultimately defeated China again in the play-in round, which means they are headed for the semifinals round of the 3x3 Olympic bracket.

Unfortunately for the men’s 3x3 team, its fate was the opposite. Team USA’s Olympic run on the men’s side was ultimately halted by the Netherlands in the Americans’ final pool play contest.

Here’s how it went down in pool play finales for Team USA:

Women’s 3x3 vs. China (Pt. 1)

Team USA started pool play 0-3 on the women’s side, but since that loss to Australia on August 1, the Americans have been a completely different team.

It’s not that those preliminary pool play games weren’t close in score. Team USA lost to Germany by four points, Azerbaijan by three points and Australia by two points. The Americans just couldn’t cross that threshold into the win column.

That changed against Spain and the team hasn’t looked back .

“We wouldn’t change a single thing that happened,” Dearica Hamby said in an interview with FIBA 3x3 Women’s Basketball . “We needed those three losses to kind of wake us up and see that although we may be more talented, that we gotta figure out a way to dig deep and pull out wins and compete.”

With three straight wins over Spain, Canada and France coming into the contest, Team USA came out ready to close out pool play with a fourth-straight victory.

The game against China started back-and-forth until the United States rattled off five points in a row to go up 8-4 with 4:17 to play. From there, Team USA was in the driver’s seat. For the rest of the contest, China never came within more than two points of the Americans’ lead. Team USA ultimately defeated China 14-12 .

Hailey Van Lith led the way with six points, two rebounds and a 2-pointer. Hamby finished with four points and five rebounds, while Rhyne Howard had three points, two rebounds and a 2-pointer.

Women’s 3x3 vs. China (Part 2)

Having played China earlier in the day, Team USA was once again ready and this time, prepared to eliminate the Chinese from further Olympic contention. With pool play over, it was now a play-in game that stood in the way of a trip to the semifinals for Team USA.

In its second straight game against China , the game once again proved back-and-forth to start play. Eventually, however, Team USA was able to pull ahead. A 4-0 run made the score 11-6 and for the remainder of the game, China only got within three points of the Americans’ lead.

In more dominant fashion than the first go-around, Team USA beat China 21-13 to advance to the semifinals .

This game proved to be Hamby’s for the taking, as she finished with a team-high nine points. She also grabbed five rebounds, had two key assists and went 3-for-3 from 2-point range.

Burdick and Howard both finished with five points. Burdick also had eight rebounds and two key assists, while Howard had a rebound and a 2-pointer in the contest. Van Lith scored two points and tallied five rebounds and two key assists.

The Americans will play Spain , whom they defeated 17-11 in their first pool play win, at 12:30 p.m. EST on August 5.

Team USA is already guaranteed a spot in the bronze medal game should its game against Spain result in a loss. If the Americans defeat Spain, they will play the winner of Germany vs. Canada for a chance at a second-straight gold medal.

Men’s 3x3 vs. the Netherlands

The men’s squad came into play against the Netherlands with a day off and a two-game winning streak.

With Jimmer Fredette – whose role changed from player to glorified sideline coach, as he was stuck on the sidelines with an injury – still out, it was up to Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis to fight so that Team USA could live to see another day.

Unfortunately, the Netherlands took it to the Americans and dominated them 21-6 , meaning Team USA’s Olympic journey would start and end in pool play.

Travis started the game with a 2-pointer for the United States, while Barry started 0-for-2 from 2-point range to start. In a fast-paced contest, the Netherlands eventually jumped out to an 8-4 lead which turned into a 12-5 lead with five minutes to go.

Throughout the game, Team USA looked out of sync. 2-pointers were airballed and the deficit on the scoreboard continued to grow, making it too much to overcome for the United States.

Suffice it to say, it was all about the Netherlands. With 3:27 still to go on the game clock, the Netherlands hit a 2-point shot to seal the deal and end the contest.

While the Netherlands’ 2-point shots were seemingly falling all game, Team USA went just 1-for-11 from distance. Barry, Maddox and Travis all scored two points apiece for the United States.

Team USA’s 3x3 squad’s run certainly ended sooner than it would have liked. One loss in pool play became two losses, and those losses ultimately piled up too much when it mattered most.

Much to the United States’ chagrin, the men’s team will have to wait until the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles for another chance at winning its first medal .

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