International football is not the only sport hosting a high-profile World Cup nowadays.
Another one took place in Warsaw that was more of the basketball variety. Going into the contest, USA Basketball had an opportunity to claim a fourth gold medal at a 3×3 FIBA World Cup. Team USA had previously won gold medals in 2012 in Athens, 2014 in Moscow and 2023 in Vienna.
This one came down to the final seconds. Australia had a 20-19 advantage over Team USA prior to Mikaylah Williams draining a two-pointer to give the Stars and Stripes the advantage. Team USA would hold its lead and the quartet of Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards and Sahara Williams would depart from Poland with gold medals around their necks.
Williams had the signature moment of this year’s tournament in Warsaw. Prior to her connecting on that two-pointer, she was attempted four prior two-point shots and did not connect. It was the most opportune time for the LSU rising senior star to hit paydirt from distance.
Speaking of LSU rising senior stars, the bulk of Team USA’s efforts were spearheaded by Fulwiley who concluded this year’s Gold Medal Game with nine of the Stars and Stripes’ 21 points. South Carolina’s Edwards and Oklahoma’s Sahara Williams also contributed four points apiece for the all-SEC Team USA assembling.
For Australia, Marena Whittle was giving Team USA problems all contest long. Whittle would conclude her game with a game-high 11 points. Eight of Australia’s 14 3-point attempts departed from Whittle’s hands and she connected on four of those tries. Whittle’s performance also included five rebounds.
Australia also benefitted from four points that were placed on the scoreboard by Amy Atwell and Hannah Hank, the latter of whom also hauled in three boards. Emma Clarke may have contributed only one point to the Australia cause but she did grab four rebounds.
Team USA managed to keep a good bit of distance between itself and its adversaries from Australia for much of Sunday’s contest. At one point late in the game, the scoreboard read that Team USA’s lead over Australia was 17-12 before five consecutive points from Whittle would even the tally up at 17 apiece.
A two-pointer courtesy of Fulwiley broke the stalemate to give the Stars and Stripes a 19-17 edge before a free throw from Hank and another two-pointer by Whittle enabled Australia to assume its first lead of the game with under a minute to play.
High drama had built with FIBA gold on the line, but Mikaylah Williams responded to Whittle’s final two-pointer with one of her to ensure that brief 20-19 Australia edge would be Australia’s only lead of the contest.
Prior to Sunday’s contest for the gold medal, Team USA needed overtime to outlast Azerbaijan by a final score of 19-18 to advance to the gold medal tilt with Australia.
The Stars and Stripes would claim victories over Hungary (18-15), Mongolia (20-17) and Spain (21-18) in addition to a previous matchup with Australia (21-18) as Team USA was part of Pool B. After going 4-0 in pool play, Team USA advanced to the knockout round where it began its trek to the top of the FIBA podium with an 18-16 victory over France.
Williams was named World Cup MVP and she, along with Australia’s Atwell and Noortje Driessen of the Netherland earned Women’s Team of the Tournament recognition.
Team USA will be in search of a fifth FIBA 3×3 gold medal next June in Singapore.
