Meet the Teams: Who are the 8 players trying to bring USA to the Tokyo 2020 3x3 Olympic Tournament?

COLORADO SPRINGS (USA) - With just a month away from the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (March 18-22 in Bengaluru, India), the four-member men’s and women’s US rosters have been announced. The rosters were selected by the USA Basketball 3x3 Selection Committees following February 12-15 training camps in Chicago that featured 11 female and 16 male hopefuls.

For the men, the section committee included Jay Demings, Mo McHone, and Kara Lawson, while the women’s team was selected by Demings, Carol Callan, and men’s team member, Kareem Maddox.

The USA men earned their spot in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament by winning the 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Cup. On the women’s side, they earned their spot in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament via the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking. 

There are 20 teams in each category in Bengaluru and only 3 tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,

Let’s take a closer look at the squads that will be competing to be in Japan for 3x3’s Olympic debut.

Men’s Team  

Canyon Barry (not on a World Tour team last year)
6ft 4in (1.94m)
World rank: 293

Canyon Barry, the son of NBA player and hall-of-famer Rick Barry is best known for his sharp shooting and underhand free throw style that saw set the University of Florida school record for most consecutive free throws made. The 26-year-old is not just a shooter though; he is an athletic wing that can defend, pass, and attack the rim. Barry was a part of the World Cup 2019 team in Amsterdam that went on to win the country’s first World title in the senior men’s category after going undefeated in the tournament. He was the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 5.6 points per game, fifth most among all competitors. 

Robbie Hummel (Team Princeton)
6ft 8in (2.03m) 
World Rank: 16
Hummel, the 2019 USA Basketball male player of the year, has been a standout for Team USA in 3x3. The athletic forward has an array of tricks in his bag, including a lethal catch and shoot game, strong midrange play, and the ability to get to the basket. His basketball journey has been unique, first as an All-Big Ten player at Purdue University followed by a stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The multi-faceted Hummel was the leading scorer for the 2019 World Cup winning team in Amsterdam and was named MVP. He brings toughness and a high basketball IQ to a team that is looking to qualify for Tokyo. 

Dominique Jones (Team NY Harlem)
5ft 9in (1.75m) 
World Rank: 9
The illusive playmaker has an inside-outside game that makes him one of the hardest players to guard in 3x3. Jones can often be seen crossing up defenders with a quick first step and an explosive attacking mentality. He can step back and hit long 2-pointers or take you off the dribble and leave you chasing his moves to the basket. But, keep an eye on the ball because he is known to get his teammates involved with laser passes for easy buckets. Jones joins Team USA after a strong year with NY Harlem on the World Tour. He won his first Masters in Lausanne and was named the World Tour regular season MVP by the fans and players. Disco Domo has had experience playing on the international level, winning the gold medal for the USA squad at the 2019 Pan American games, leading the team in scoring at 7.1 points per game. 

Kareem Maddox (Team Princeton)
6ft 8in (2.03m) 
World Rank: 17
The physical and shot blocking threat Maddox brings toughness and defense to a Team USA side that looks to impose their will in India. Maddox has experienced plenty of 3x3 success, including his win alongside Barry and Hummel at the World Cup 2019 with Team USA and playing with Jones to win the gold at the 2019 Pan American games. The former Princeton University standout still wears its name across his chest as a member of the “Princeton” team that won their first World Tour Masters last year in LA. Who do you think was named MVP? Maddox himself. He rounds out a strong team that complements one another’s games with big dreams of gold in Japan. 

Women’s Team 

Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA)
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).

Collier is the only member of the team with international 3x3 experience, winning the Gold medal for Team USA at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China, going undefeated. At UCONN, she was one of the most prolific all-around players in school history, scoring 2000 points and grabbing 1000 rebounds. As a WNBA player, Collier set herself apart after being chosen with the 6th overall selection in 2019, winning WNBA Rookie of the Year and earning a WNBA All-Star selection. She boasts an inside-outside game that makes her a threat all over the court.

Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky in the WNBA)
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).
The two-time WNBA All-Star and two-time National Champion at UCONN, Dolson provides toughness down low as a bruising backdown scorer. She joins the squad with just 2 international experiences in basketball at youth level. Dolson can space the floor with her nice touch from outside the arc, has a sneaky good post game and will be an intimidating presence for the US in the paint.

Allisha Gray (Dallas Wings in the WNBA)
 ‎6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Gray earned her spot on the team as an aggressive slasher, who can also create for her teammates. She earned the 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year honor for the Dallas Wings, where she averaged 13 points and four rebounds. The left-hander heads to India to try and earn a qualifying spot at the Olympics with her entertaining style of play, perfect for the 3x3 game.

Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA) 
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
The WNBA star had one of the most prolific college basketball careers in recent memory, setting the all-time Pac 12 scoring record (men or women) for Washington University, earning 2017 AP Player of the Year honors, while averaging 25 points per game. The number one overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft has been a consistent force for the Las Vegas Aces, starting 83 games across three seasons including three playoff games, where she averaged 15 points per game. She has drawn comparisons to James Harden for her sweet lefty shooting stroke and ability to get to the basket and draw contact. She enters the 3x3 qualifying tournament with two Gold medals for team USA, including the FIBA Basketball Women’s World Cup 2018 in Spain.

The USA men will play in Pool B, along with Lithuania, Belgium, South Korea and New Zealand while the women will play in Pool A with France, Germany, Uruguay and Indonesia.