WUHAN (China) — Lithuania men and the United States women are the champions of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026 after an action-packed final day at Hongshan Riverfront Park, with both teams overcoming tough challenges to claim the title in Wuhan.

The United States defeated Canada 15-10 in the Women’s Final to reclaim the U23 World Cup title, while Lithuania held off Latvia 19-18 to successfully defend their Men’s crown.

USA women return to the top

The United States navigated a demanding knockout run to claim their second FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup Women’s title. After defeating the Netherlands 21-17 in the Quarter-Finals, USA overcame Spain 21-16 in the Semi-Finals to set up a championship showdown with Canada.

The Final was a low-scoring battle from start to finish. The USA opened with a 4-1 lead before Canada fought back to level at 5-5. Canada then moved ahead 9-7, but the Americans responded to regain the lead at 10-9 before pulling away late.

The USA held a 12-9 advantage inside the last minute and closed out the contest from the free-throw line to secure a 15-10 victory and their second U23 World Cup title.

Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney capped a superb tournament with another strong performance in the Final, recording six points, six rebounds, eight highlights and three blocks.

Lithuania retain Men’s crown

Lithuania successfully defended their Men’s title after edging Latvia 19-18 in a thrilling Final. The defending champions established control early, moving ahead 4-1 before extending their advantage to 10-6. Latvia continued to fight, cutting the deficit to 13-11 midway through the contest, but Lithuania repeatedly found an answer.

Lithuania led 18-13 with less than three minutes remaining and still held a 19-15 advantage inside the last two minutes. Latvia refused to go away, though, cutting the gap to 19-17 and then 19-18 after Lithuania entered the foul penalty and Latvia converted one of two free throws.

With the championship hanging in the balance, Lithuania held on through the final seconds to repeat as U23 World Cup Men’s champions.

MVPs

USA’s Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney was rewarded with the Women’s MVP award. She finished with 30 total points, 12 drives and a 44.7 total player value.

Lithuania’s Paulius Velutis was named Men’s MVP. He finished with 47 total points, third-most in the tournament, while his 26 highlights ranked second.

Men’s Standings

1. Lithuania (LTU)
2. Latvia (LAT)
3. Australia (AUS)
4. Serbia (SRB)
5. France (FRA)
6. New Zealand (NZL)
7. Netherlands (NED)
8. United States (USA)
9. Poland (POL)
10. Germany (GER)
11. Argentina (ARG)
12. Spain (ESP)
13. Republic of Korea (KOR)
14. China (CHN)
15. Egypt (EGY)
16. Algeria (ALG)
17. Kazakhstan (KAZ)
18. Philippines (PHI)
19. Kenya (KEN)
20. Tonga (TGA)

Women’s Standings

1. United States (USA)
2. Canada (CAN)
3. Spain (ESP)
4. Latvia (LAT)
5. Australia (AUS)
6. France (FRA)
7. China (CHN)
8. Netherlands (NED)
9. Egypt (EGY)
10. Czechia (CZE)
11. Uganda (UGA)
12. Japan (JPN)
13. Italy (ITA)
14. Kenya (KEN)
15. Slovenia (SLO)
16. Poland (POL)
17. Chinese Taipei (TPE)
18. Madagascar (MAD)
19. Philippines (PHI)
20. Tonga (TGA)

The seventh edition of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup delivered high-intensity action, dramatic finishes and new milestones in Wuhan. As the next generation of 3×3 basketball stars continues to make its mark on the global stage, Lithuania men and the USA women stand alone at the top of the U23 3×3 ladder.

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About FIBA 3×3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

FIBA

WUHAN (China) — Lithuania men and the United States women are the champions of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026 after an action-packed final day at Hongshan Riverfront Park, with both teams overcoming tough challenges to claim the title in Wuhan.

The United States defeated Canada 15-10 in the Women’s Final to reclaim the U23 World Cup title, while Lithuania held off Latvia 19-18 to successfully defend their Men’s crown.

USA women return to the top

The United States navigated a demanding knockout run to claim their second FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup Women’s title. After defeating the Netherlands 21-17 in the Quarter-Finals, USA overcame Spain 21-16 in the Semi-Finals to set up a championship showdown with Canada.

The Final was a low-scoring battle from start to finish. The USA opened with a 4-1 lead before Canada fought back to level at 5-5. Canada then moved ahead 9-7, but the Americans responded to regain the lead at 10-9 before pulling away late.

The USA held a 12-9 advantage inside the last minute and closed out the contest from the free-throw line to secure a 15-10 victory and their second U23 World Cup title.

Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney capped a superb tournament with another strong performance in the Final, recording six points, six rebounds, eight highlights and three blocks.

Lithuania retain Men’s crown

Lithuania successfully defended their Men’s title after edging Latvia 19-18 in a thrilling Final. The defending champions established control early, moving ahead 4-1 before extending their advantage to 10-6. Latvia continued to fight, cutting the deficit to 13-11 midway through the contest, but Lithuania repeatedly found an answer.

Lithuania led 18-13 with less than three minutes remaining and still held a 19-15 advantage inside the last two minutes. Latvia refused to go away, though, cutting the gap to 19-17 and then 19-18 after Lithuania entered the foul penalty and Latvia converted one of two free throws.

With the championship hanging in the balance, Lithuania held on through the final seconds to repeat as U23 World Cup Men’s champions.

MVPs

USA’s Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney was rewarded with the Women’s MVP award. She finished with 30 total points, 12 drives and a 44.7 total player value.

Lithuania’s Paulius Velutis was named Men’s MVP. He finished with 47 total points, third-most in the tournament, while his 26 highlights ranked second.

Men’s Standings

1. Lithuania (LTU)
2. Latvia (LAT)
3. Australia (AUS)
4. Serbia (SRB)
5. France (FRA)
6. New Zealand (NZL)
7. Netherlands (NED)
8. United States (USA)
9. Poland (POL)
10. Germany (GER)
11. Argentina (ARG)
12. Spain (ESP)
13. Republic of Korea (KOR)
14. China (CHN)
15. Egypt (EGY)
16. Algeria (ALG)
17. Kazakhstan (KAZ)
18. Philippines (PHI)
19. Kenya (KEN)
20. Tonga (TGA)

Women’s Standings

1. United States (USA)
2. Canada (CAN)
3. Spain (ESP)
4. Latvia (LAT)
5. Australia (AUS)
6. France (FRA)
7. China (CHN)
8. Netherlands (NED)
9. Egypt (EGY)
10. Czechia (CZE)
11. Uganda (UGA)
12. Japan (JPN)
13. Italy (ITA)
14. Kenya (KEN)
15. Slovenia (SLO)
16. Poland (POL)
17. Chinese Taipei (TPE)
18. Madagascar (MAD)
19. Philippines (PHI)
20. Tonga (TGA)

The seventh edition of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup delivered high-intensity action, dramatic finishes and new milestones in Wuhan. As the next generation of 3×3 basketball stars continues to make its mark on the global stage, Lithuania men and the USA women stand alone at the top of the U23 3×3 ladder.

###

About FIBA 3×3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly professional circuit for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) and national-team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

FIBA

WUHAN (China) — Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney capped a standout tournament by being named Women’s MVP of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026, after helping the United States reclaim the Women’s title in Wuhan.

Mckinney was instrumental throughout the USA’s gold medal run, contributing across the court as the Americans battled through the knockout rounds and defeated Canada 15-10 in the Final to secure their second Women’s U23 World Cup gold medal.

The USA faced the defending champions Netherlands in the Quarter-Finals, winning 21-17 before overcoming Spain 21-16 in the Semi-Finals to reach the championship game.

Mckinney saved another all-around performance for the Final, finishing with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 8 highlights and 3 blocks as the USA held off Canada in a low-scoring contest.

Across the tournament, Mckinney registered 30 total points, while recording 12 drives and a 44.7 total player value.

Her consistent production on both ends of the court earned her the MVP award and capped a memorable campaign as the USA returned to the summit of Women’s U23 3×3 basketball.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

WUHAN (China) — Paulius Velutis capped a dominant tournament by being named Men’s MVP of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026, after leading Lithuania to a second consecutive Men’s title in Wuhan.

Velutis was at the heart of Lithuania’s championship run, producing a series of impactful performances as the defending champions navigated the knockout rounds and held off Latvia 19-18 in a thrilling Final.

Lithuania defeated New Zealand 21-17 in the Quarter-Finals before overcoming Serbia 22-15 in the Semi-Finals. Velutis delivered 11 points against Serbia, including a decisive step-back two-pointer that sealed Lithuania’s place in the Final.

When the pressure peaked against Latvia, Velutis again delivered, scoring nine points as Lithuania held on for a 19-18 victory and successfully defended their U23 World Cup crown.

Throughout the tournament, Velutis amassed 47 total points (third overall) and 26 highlights (second overall). He also recorded 13 drives (second overall) and finished with a 60.9 total player value (third overall).

His all-around production and decisive contributions earned Velutis the MVP trophy, capping a memorable campaign as Lithuania repeated as Men’s U23 World Cup champions.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

IOWA CITY— Iowa women’s basketball player Dani Carnegie and Team USA won gold in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The United States beat Canada, 15-10, to claim the title in the championship game in Wuhan, China. It is Team USA’s second World Cup title, previously winning in 2024.

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Carnegie, a transfer from Georgia, scored five points and added four rebounds in Saturday’s title game. She was named to the roster earlier this month, along with fellow Big Ten Conference players Katie Fiso (Oregon) and Tori McKinney (Minnesota) and McKinna Brackens of Arizona State.

The same group also won the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas North Conference back in July.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dani Carnegie, Team USA win FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup

WUHAN, China — The seventh edition of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup delivered another compelling glimpse into the future of 3×3 basketball, with Lithuania defending their men’s crown, the USA reclaiming women’s gold and a host of young stars making their mark in Wuhan.

From dramatic pool-phase finishes to knockout-round comebacks and championship-deciding moments, here are the biggest takeaways from the tournament.

Lithuania building a dynasty

Lithuania entered Wuhan as the defending men’s champions. They leave as back-to-back FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup winners. After going 4-0 in Pool D, Lithuania navigated a challenging knockout bracket, defeating New Zealand 21-17 in the Quarter-Finals and Serbia 22-15 in the Semi-Finals before edging Latvia 19-18 in a tense Final.

The championship was another chapter in Lithuania’s impressive U23 story, with the team once again finding a way through the biggest moments. Against Serbia, they had to withstand a physical Semi-Final before eventual Men’s MVP Paulius Velutis produced the decisive step-back two-pointer to send Lithuania through. In the Final, Latvia repeatedly threatened to turn the game around and very nearly sent the game into overtime, but Lithuania held their nerve to close out another World Cup title.

The message is clear: Lithuania remain the team to beat at the Men’s U23 level.

USA back on top

The USA women had waited since 2024 to reclaim the U23 World Cup crown. In Wuhan, they did exactly that. The Americans overcame the defending champions Netherlands 21-17 in the Quarter-Finals before defeating Spain 21-16 in the Semi-Finals.

Canada then awaited in the Final, having reached the championship game for the first time in U23 World Cup history. It was a low-scoring battle, with neither team able to pull away for long. Canada led 9-7 at one stage, but the USA regained control and eventually closed out a 15-10 victory. The result delivered the USA’s second Women’s U23 World Cup title, following their triumph in 2024.

Raising the bar

The FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup is designed to showcase the players who will shape the future of international 3×3 basketball, and Wuhan offered plenty of evidence that the talent pool continues to grow. The tournament featured teams from across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, creating a genuinely global test for the next generation.

New Zealand’s Joshua Book summed up the appeal of the competition after his team reached the Quarter-Finals.

“The World Cup, it features teams from Africa, Europe, the Americas, the whole world,” Book said. “It’s the best that the under-23s has to offer.” The depth was evident throughout the week, with pool-phase surprises, close knockout games and several teams pushing established programs to the limit.

MVPs showed out

The tournament’s two MVPs embodied the quality and consistency required to go all the way. Victoria Elizabeth Mckinney played a major role in the USA’s championship campaign before being named Women’s MVP. She finished with 30 total points, 12 drives and a 44.7 total player value, ranked fifth in the tournament. She saved another all-around performance for the Final, contributing six points, six rebounds, eight highlights and three blocks.

On the Men’s side, Paulius Velutis was instrumental in Lithuania’s title defense. Velutis recorded 47 total points, third-most in the tournament, along with 26 highlights, ranked second, and 13 drives, also ranked second. His 60.9 total player value ranked third overall. Most importantly, his biggest moments came when Lithuania needed them most.

Big moments decide everything

If there was another lesson from Wuhan, it was a familiar one in 3×3 basketball: games can turn in an instant.

Australia’s William Mahoney provided one of the clearest examples. After Serbia tied the Men’s third-place game at 20-20 late in regulation, Mahoney scored the decisive basket in overtime to give Australia their first-ever U23 World Cup medal.

Latvia also produced a dramatic comeback against Australia in the Men’s Semi-Finals, overcoming a 19-17 deficit to win 21-18 and reach the Final. And in the women’s tournament, Canada erased a five-point deficit against Australia in the Quarter-Finals before eventually winning 19-16.

These showed that while the margins were tiny, the rewards were enormous.

Memorable Wuhan

The seventh edition of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup ultimately belonged to Lithuania and the USA, but the tournament offered much more than two championship stories.

Canada reached their first Women’s Final. Australia claimed their first Men’s U23 World Cup medal. Spain secured back-to-back Women’s bronze medals. And a new generation of players gained valuable experience on one of 3×3 basketball’s biggest stages.

With the world’s best young players continuing to develop and transition toward the senior level, the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup once again provided a glimpse of what is coming next.

For now, Lithuania men and the USA women leave Wuhan as champions. But the future of 3×3 basketball looks brighter than ever.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

Wuhan, China (September 19, 2026) – Canada’s 3×3 U23 women’s national team captured its first-ever FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup medal Saturday, earning silver after falling 15-10 to the United States in the final.

Mary-Anna Asare was named to the Women’s Team of the Tournament after leading the competition with 47 points. She also ranked second in the tournament in player value at 53.8.

The United States opened the final with a 5-2 lead before Canada responded behind a pair of baskets from Cyanne Coe. Canada took a 9-7 lead midway through the game, but the Americans answered with a late run to reclaim the advantage and secure the gold medal.

Canada entered the tournament for the first time after qualifying through the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League in July. The Canadians entered the World Cup as the No. 18 seed but quickly established themselves as a contender.

Canada opened pool play with a 19-15 win over Czechia, led by Asare’s seven points on 75% shooting. Hailey Franco-DeRyck added six points and four rebounds while shooting 100% from the field.

The Canadians followed with dominant wins over Poland and Chinese Taipei, defeating Poland 22-13 before cruising to a 21-9 victory over Chinese Taipei. Canada closed out pool play with a narrow 14-13 loss to defending champion Netherlands, finishing second in Pool B.

In the quarterfinals, Canada faced Australia in a tightly contested matchup. Australia took an 8-4 lead early, but Canada battled back and took the lead with less than three minutes remaining. With Australia in the penalty and Canada in the bonus, Myriam Koné converted a late opportunity to help seal a 19-16 victory and send Canada to the semifinals.

Canada then cruised past Latvia 21-8 in the semifinals, with Coe and Koné each scoring seven points. Coe and Asare also combined for 15 rebounds as Canada advanced to its first 3×3 U23 World Cup final.

The silver medal marks Canada’s first-ever medal at the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup.

After the final, Franco-DeRyck reflected on the team’s journey from first-time 3×3 players to World Cup finalists.

“This journey has been a whirlwind of emotions. Having never played 3×3 before the Nations League, I didn’t know what to expect.”, said Franco-DeRyck. “To think that some of the teams we faced have played together for years, while we just came together in China and made it to the final, shows our resilience and our willingness to buy into each other.”

As for Asare, the historic run was made even more meaningful by the connections she built along the way.

“I’m just grateful I was paired up with a group that means so much to me. My teammates were always picking me up, and we had such an amazing staff.”

“It’s always an honour to represent your country.”, Asare continued. “It was obviously not the result we wanted, but we fought as a team, picked each other up when we were down, and came up with a medal. It means so much to write history for Canada.”

Franco-DeRyck led the tournament with a staggering 50 rebounds. Koné finished seventh in scoring with 32 points and seventh in player value at 43.0. Coe rounded out the group, placing 10th in scoring with 30 points and 10th in player value at 41.0, while ranking third in rebounds with 33.