USA 3x3 U23 Women’s National Team Aims for Gold in Wuhan
MINNEAPOLIS – The core of USA Basketball’s next wave is packing for Wuhan, and they’re not going for the experience. They’re going for medals.
Tori McKinney and the USA 3x3 U23 Women’s National Team are set to launch their 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup campaign from Sept. 15-19 in China, carrying the momentum of a summer that already proved they can win together.
A Group That Already Knows How to Finish
The roster is unchanged from the quartet that stormed through the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Americas North Conference in July in Ñuñoa, Chile: McKinna Brackens, Dani Carnegie, Katie Fiso and McKinney.
Same four. Same coach. Same expectations.
Todd Monsey, of Highland Park H.S. (Texas), returns to the sideline after guiding the group in Chile. The familiarity matters in 3x3, where chemistry, spacing and trust develop possession by possession, not over months.
They’ve already shown they can handle the pressure of a continental title. Now the stage widens.
Navigating a Demanding Pool D
The Americans drop into Pool D and face a demanding, travel-brutal schedule that will test their focus as much as their legs.
They open on Sept. 16 against Japan at 2:50 a.m. CT, a harsh wake-up call for fans back home but a sharp early barometer on court. A few hours later, at 7:50 a.m. CT, they’re back out against Kenya, a quick turnaround that will challenge their depth and conditioning.
Pool play doesn’t ease up.
On Sept. 18, the USA meet Slovenia at 4:30 a.m. CT, then close out the group against Australia at 8:25 a.m. CT. Four games, four distinct styles, all compressed into two match days. In 3x3, where games are short and possessions unforgiving, a single cold stretch can swing a pool.
The task is simple, if not easy: finish top two in Pool D and survive.
Knockout Stakes in Wuhan
Once pool play wraps, the World Cup sharpens into a sprint. The top two teams from each of the four five-team pools advance to the quarterfinals on Sept. 19.
Eight remain. One bad game, and you’re done.
An updated bracket and schedule will drop once the field is set, but the Americans know the path: handle their business in Pool D, secure a favorable quarterfinal, and give themselves a shot to stay on court deep into the final day.
They’ve already proven they can win a title together in Chile. Now the question hangs over Wuhan: can this same tight-knit group turn Nations League dominance into a World Cup run?
