Gamecocks Run to Semifinals of USAB 3X Nationals
MESA, Ariz. – The South Carolina team of Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts and Maddy McDaniel advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 USA Basketball 3X Nationals at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz., this weekend. The last of the 10 college team standing in the 16-team tournament, the Gamecocks stormed through Pool A and dominated in the quarterfinals before falling just short of the title game.
The Gamecocks opened the tournament with an efficient 21-13 victory over Team Phoenix on Friday. The took on a pair of college teams on Saturday, overwhelming South Dakota State 21-5 and topping James Madison 16-11. The 16-point win over SDSU was the largest margin of victory on the women’s side of the tournament.
The winners of Pool A took on Oklahoma State out of Pool C in the first quarterfinal on the court Sunday. Edwards got the Gamecocks off to a great start, scoring three of the team’s first four points en route to a team-high nine for the game, including the gamewinner in the 21-9 victory.
In the semifinals, South Carolina faced Chaos, one of the teams put together by USA Basketball that combined experienced 3×3 players, including Olympic bronze medalist Cierra Burdick, with newcomers who participated in a brief training camp ahead of the tournament. The Gamecocks got off to a slow start shooting and with turnovers that led to a 13-2 deficit. A late run was not enough in the 21-10 loss to end their run at the event.
In addition to crowning a champion, USA Basketball 3X Nationals serve as an evaluation for selection to various future USA Basketball 3×3 men’s and women’s national teams, including the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, set for June 23-29 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and roster spots for USA Basketball 3×3 World Tour, 3×3 Women’s Series, 3×3 U23 Nations League and 3×3 U23 World Cup teams.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on South Carolina women’s basketball.
