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The quartet of Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, Veronica Burton and Shakira Austin opened the 2025 FIBA 3×3 AmericCup in León, Mexico with two victories. Team USA earned a 21-10 win over Brazil before taking care of Jamaica by a score of 21-15. In both contests, the Americans reached the winning 21-point mark before the timed 10 minutes expired.
While Team USA achieved their wins without much difficulty, their performances included some uneven moments among flashes of promise, suggesting the four will need to refine their chemistry and trust their strategies in order to ascend to the top of the AmeriCup podium.
Whenever, wherever, Shakira shows out for Team USA against Brazil
Team USA began their game against Brazil with a beautiful designed action, with Austin coming around a screen set by Gray at the top of the key before Hillmon fired a pass from the wing to the streaking Austin, who not only finished the bucket but drew a foul.
But over their ensuing offensive possessions, the Americans struggled to execute as seamlessly, trying to force passes inside or resorting too quickly to tough shot attempts. Brazil’s frequency of fouling, however, still allowed the US to begin to establish an advantage on the scoreboard.
As they settled in, the Americans began to find a groove, going from good to great shots as they continued to benefit from the Brazilians’ hacking. At 6-foot-6, Austin, in particular, proved difficult for Brazil to handle. She finished 7-for-7 on her 1-point attempts and 3-for-3 from the line to lead the US with 10 points.
Hillmon’s hustle advantaged the Americans on the glass, as her game-high six rebounds helped the US quickly turn defensive stops into offensive possessions. As the game progressed, Team USA did a better job of transitioning from defense to offense, firing the ball behind the 2-point line to then quickly attack offensively. Hillmon matched her boards with six points, with her cuts to the basket helping her also earn three free throws.
Gray assumed her offensive role as a 2-point shooter, taking five shot attempts from behind the arc. She only hit one, instead finding more success as a driving threat as she collected a bucket at the basket and two points from the free throw line. Gray’s 3×3 experience also was evident, as she was often at the center of the Americans’ best moments of ball movement and easy offense. She also scored the game-deciding basket.
Burton was the US’s least effective player. While she grabbed five rebounds, she didn’t scratch on the scoreboard. Burton also was, somewhat surprisingly, a weak point defensively, as the Brazilians found their most success when driving past her on the perimeter.
Naz serves as Team USA’s steadying force against disruptive Jamaica
Approximately three hours later, Team USA was back on the court, matched up against a motivated Jamaica. After losing to Brazil, Jamaica had to upset Team USA to have a chance of remaining in the tournament.
And while the speed and scrappiness with which the Jamaicans played was not enough to earn the upset, their efforts did disrupt the Americans. Even if the result was never in doubt, Jamaica induced another imperfect performance from Team USA, with possessions where the Americans’ talent shined through balanced by stretches of sloppiness.
In particular, the Jamaicans’ aggressive attacks resulted in them racking up fouls, where, in a reverse of the first game, it was the US repeatedly sending the other team to the line. However, after adjusting to the Jamaicans’ style of play, Team USA appeared poised to cruise to a dominant win, up 14-4. But with three-straight scores, Jamaica found a second, scrappy wind, forcing the US to refocus to earn the win.
Yet, Austin again proved to be Team USA’s cheat code, as her combination of height, length and mobility makes her an impossible cover for opponents. A defensive possession where she shut down an attempted Jamaican drive from the perimeter served as further proof of her incredible versatility. Austin missed just one of her 1-point attempts, scoring the Americans’ first two buckets before finishing with six points, including the decisive free throw. She also grabbed six boards.
Hillmon succeeded by bullying the Jamaicans around the basket, using her strength and savvy to lead Team USA with seven points. She also snagged six rebounds, with four of them being offensive. Hillmon further helped headline the US’s improved defensive strategy, as they were more insistent about not allowing Jamaica to easily start their offensive possessions after US baskets.
Burton turned in a more positive performance, netting a pair of 2-pointers in addition to a strong finish inside and a crafty drive as she contributed six points and five boards. Gray served as the Americans’ playmaker, compiling five assists as her 2-point shot still remained off. She was 0-for-5 from behind the arc, finishing with two points.
What’s next for Team USA?
The winners of Pool B, Team USA is off on Saturday. They’ll return to the court on Sunday afternoon at 2:50 p.m. ET for a Quarter-Final matchup against Argentina. The Argentinians finished second in Pool D, defeating Chile in their first game before losing to Paraguay in their second match.
Watch Team USA in their Quater-Final contest and, hopefully, subsequent Semi-Final and Final matches on the FIBA 3×3 YouTube channel.
