USA retain men and women’s titles at FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup 2021

Debrecen, Hungary, August 30, 2021: USA made history again by successfully defending their FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup titles in both the men and the women’s categories in Debrecen, Hungary on August 24-29, 2021.

Two years after completing the historic double for the first time in Mongolia, the United States repeated after going undefeated with the men and 6-1 with the women (their only loss coming against Russia in the pool stage).

At just 16 years old, Mikaylah Williams was sensational for the women’s team, comfortably leading the scoring charts (with 56 points overall, the second had just 36) and winning MVP. She had a game-high 10 points and buried a shot from the 3×3 logo for the win against Spain in the final (21-14).

Spain’s Elena Buenavida and Zita Szabo – who led Hungary to bronze in front of the huge home crowd – joined Williams on the team of the tournament.

In the men’s category, the United States won every single game before the 10-minute limit. Estonia were the only team that tested the high-flying American team, in their opener (21-17) and in the final (21-14).

After a slow U.S. start, Kyle Filipowski controlled the paint like Picasso in the final (game-high 9 points in the final). His teammate Keyonte George added 7 to move up to second overall in scoring on the entire tournament. George scored in all positions in Hungary and received the MVP trophy from Russian basketball legend and FIBA 3×3 Commission Chairman Andrei Kirilenko.

Top scorer Illia Milasheuski – who took home bronze with Belarus – and Estonia star Markus Heinakroon shared team of the tournament honors with George.

Egypt finished fourth in the men’s category, the best-ever performance by an African team in the competition.

George’s teammate Eric Dailey Jr won the dunk contest, Paula Cirsa (Latvia’s women) dominated the skills contest while Marta Morales (Spain’s women) earned gold at the mixed shoot-out contest.

Final Standings of the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup 2021

Men

  1. USA
  2. Estonia
  3. Belarus
  4. Egypt
  5. Ukraine
  6. Lithuania
  7. Dominican Republic
  8. Kazakhstan
  9. Russia
  10. Slovenia
  11. Brazil
  12. Mongolia
  13. Israel
  14. Hungary
  15. Germany
  16. Romania
  17. Latvia
  18. Indonesia

Women

  1. USA
  2. Spain
  3. Hungary
  4. Germany
  5. Russia
  6. Latvia
  7. Ukraine
  8. Estonia
  9. Belarus
  10. Netherlands
  11. Israel
  12. Slovenia
  13. Romania
  14. Egypt
  15. Mongolia
  16. Switzerland
  17. Indonesia. —- FIBA
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