Women’s college basketball stars shine as Team USA wins FIBA 3×3 World Cup gold

Team USA women’s basketball has several college stars to thank for its latest gold medal.

On June 7, the USA women’s basketball 3×3 roster secured gold with a 21-20 win over Australia at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland.  The victory comes after a gritty 19-18 overtime win over Azerbaijan in the semifinals.  The winning group included South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards, LSU’s Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley, plus Oklahoma forward Saraha Williams.

Since the event began in 2012, the American women have medaled five times, including four gold medals (2012, 2014, 2023, 2026) and one bronze (2016).

Mikaylah Williams, who made the game-winning basket to push the USA out in front, also walked away with MVP honors. She scored a team-high nine points in the matchup. Mikaylah led the team in scoring with 6.6 points per matchup a joined Cameron Brink (2023) as the only other American woman to take home an MVP award.

“I’m blessed to be on this stage, to play with some amazing teammates, to play for some amazing coaches and to rep USA,,” Williams said postgame.

Edwards, a star at South Carolina, has the led Gamecocks to two national title games. The 6-foot-3 forward was a consensus All-American as a sophomore this past season, averaging 19.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 57.1% from the floor.

Mikaylah Williams has started in 105 of the 106 games she’s played at LSU and was named to first-team All-SEC for a second time this past season. Over her career, Mikaylah has averaged 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.3% from 3-point range.

Edwards and Fulwiley previously played together at South Carolina during the 2024-25 season before Fulwiley transferred to LSU, where she plays alongside Mikaylah Williams. Fulwiley has won the SEC’s Sixth Player of the Year twice and has also been named to an All-Region team in the NCAA Tournament twice. Last season, Fulwiley averaged 14.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

Sahara Williams averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 46.1% from the floor this past season for the Sooners. She helped Oklahoma make the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where the Sooners fell to Edwards and South Carolina.