USA win their first-ever FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series event in Klaipeda
KLAIPEDA (Lithuania) – The United States won the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Klaipeda Stop at the end of a nail-biting overtime final against Spain (19-17) in Klaipeda, Lithuania on July 30-31, 2021.
It marked USA’s first-ever event title at the Women’s Series after seven attempts in 19 all-time events between 2019 and 2021.
For the first time, the team was not composed of college players (the squad was 26 years old on average). The United States were represented by the players of Force 10 3x3, the first-ever professional women’s 3x3 team in the country.
The United States were undefeated in Lithuania (4-0) and led all the teams in points scored (18.8 per game), rebounds and two-point percentage (45%). However, they were pushed to an overtime final by Spain, who won the Mies Stop earlier this season.
Former 3x3 world champion (in 2014) Cierra Burdick led all scorers and rebounders in the final (8 and 7) and got a little help from Breanna Richardson, who scored the buzzer beater on a tough contested drive.
Rarely had we seen such a versatile and team-oriented squad on the Women’s Series: three of their players ranked in the top 5 in the scoring charts (Linnae Harper and Alexis Peterson tied at second with 27 points, Burdick fifth with 25).
The FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2016 bronze medalist Harper won MVP after leading all players in player value at the event.
It was the end of an amazing week for the United States in women’s 3x3 after their team won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
3x3 star Sandra Ygueravide had a game-high 8 points in the losing effort in the final for Spain and led all scorers in Klaipeda (33 points in 5 games).
With this second place, Spain take the lead in the season standings with 274 points in 4 events, ahead of France and Russia (200 points each). The United States jump to 9th place with 100 points though it was just their first event of the season.
The next Women’s Series Stop will take place in Constanta, Romania on August 14-15.
Klaipeda Stop Final Standings
1. USA
2. Spain
3. Germany
4. Poland
5. Israel
6. Hungary
7. Austria
8. Lithuania
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Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.
It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour and national-team FIBA 3x3 World & Continental Cups.
On 9 June 2017, 3x3 was added to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo Games.
Wilson is the Global Ball and Apparel Partner and Tissot the Official Timekeeper of FIBA 3x3.
FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, and the Magic Sky canopy system.
For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitter, Youku , YouTube and Twitch or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.