Team USA failed to repeat as gold medalists in women’s 3×3 basketball, but Hailey Van Lith still felt satisfied with bronze.
After dropping three straight games to open play in Paris, the Americans collected bronze, defeating Canada 16-13 after losing in the semifinals to Spain.
“Winning a medal for your country just makes you super proud,” said Val Lith, per NBC 5 DFW. “Even after the game I got super emotional. There’s just not enough words. You just feel so proud. You’re just so thankful for your family and your friends and everyone who cheered and supported you. If they’re going to have me again at Next [Olympics]I will be back.”
Van Lith, who will finish his college career at TCU after stops at Louisville and LSU, played in his first Olympic Games.
Olympics 2024 in Paris
The four-person team also included Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hambry, who replaced Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink after she suffered a torn cruciate ligament in June.
The three-on-three competition was new at the 2021 Tokyo Games and was brought back to Paris, where the Netherlands won gold on the men’s side, defeating France.
The USA men’s 3×3 basketball team was eliminated from the Olympics on Sunday after a 2-5 record in pool play.
As for the women’s team, the USA’s victory over Canada was fueled by a 7-1 run that started with just over three minutes left and the USA trailing 12-9.
“This game was all about mental toughness,” Van Lith said. “Both of us had lost games before, so we knew we just had to come out tough. That’s all we talked about. It’s about who’s going to be mentally tough enough to play for fouls.