Call them Team LSUSA at this point.
On Sunday, Mikaylah Williams hit the game-winning shots in the semifinal and final of the women’s tournament at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw. The U.S. team of Mikaylah Williams, fellow Tiger Milaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards, and Oklahoma forward Sahara Williams claimed the fourth American women’s gold medal in World Cup history with a 19-18 OT victory over Azerbaijan in the semifinals and a 21-20 victory over Australia in the final.
Mikaylah earned tournament MVP for her incredible performance.
For those unaware of FIBA 3×3 rules, games end either when one team gets to 21 points or when the 10-minute clock expires. Shots inside the arc are worth one point and shots outside the arc are worth two. If teams are tied after 10 minutes, they play an overtime period where the first team to two points wins.
Team USA entered Warsaw’s World Cup on a strong run after winning back-to-back Women’s Series events in Chengdu and Manila for the first time in team history. The Americans swept through pool play by beating Hungary, Australia, Mongolia and Spain, with Mikaylah leading the scoring in the Australia and Spain games.
In the knockout stage, Team USA earned a bye into the quarterfinals. They beat France in their quarterfinal match Saturday 18-16. Mikaylah led all scorers with 8 points. On medal day, Team USA began with a tough battle with Azerbaijan that went to overtime after a buzzer-beating two by Alexandra Mollenhauer. After back-and-forth ones by Sahara Williams and Dina Ulyanova, Mikaylah called game with a classic drive inside and a pull-up jumper to send the U.S. to the final.
In the final, Fulwiley led Team USA with 9 points, but Mikaylah called game. The Americans took control early with an 11-5 lead, and they had a late 17-12 lead. The Gangurrus (the real nickname for the Australian team) went on a quick 5-0 run to tie the game up, and a late Fulwiley two put Team USA one shot away from gold. After a free throw and a two gave Australia a 20-19 lead, Fulwiley hoisted a two to win the game. It missed, but her uncanny rebounding ability came out at the perfect time. She cleared the ball and passed it to Mikayla. Mikaylah hit a small shot-fake that made her defender jump away, and she buried the game-winning shot with 30 seconds left.
LSU wasn’t just represented on the American team. Tiger center Kate Koval played for the Ukrainian team. Ukraine finished at the top of Pool D, but they fell to Australia in the quarterfinals 21-10.
