South Carolina Stars Shine Bright in 3×3 Nationals But Fall Short of Gold
South Carolina Women’s Basketball made a powerful impression at the 2025 USA Basketball 3X Nationals this past weekend in Mesa, Arizona, going undefeated in pool play but ultimately settling for third place after a tough semifinal loss.
The squad—Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Maddy McDaniel—represented the Gamecocks with pride, led by assistant coach Khadijah Sessions (though coaches are restricted from in-game communication in 3×3 competition).
Played on a half court with a 10-minute game clock and a 12-second shot clock, 3×3 basketball ends when a team hits 21 points or is leading at the buzzer.
South Carolina looked dominant early:
- Crushed Phoenix 21-13 on Friday.
- Dominated South Dakota State 21-5 and beat James Madison 16-11 on Saturday.
- Rolled over Oklahoma State 21-9 in the quarterfinals.
But their run was stopped by none other than Team Chaos, led by former Gamecock MiLaysia Fulwiley, who knocked them out with a 21-10 win in the semifinals. South Carolina still finished third overall based on total points scored, though individual stats weren’t tracked.
The women’s bracket featured 16 teams, including powerhouses like Florida, Vanderbilt, TCU, and others. The tournament also doubled as a scouting event for future USA Basketball 3×3 teams, including the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
South Carolina continues to build a strong legacy in the 3×3 space. Former Gamecock Allisha Gray helped Team USA win the first-ever Olympic gold in Tokyo. More recently, Sania Feagin led Team USA to a World Cup gold that helped propel her standout senior season.
This was the first 3×3 outing for Edwards, Kitts, Johnson, and McDaniel:
- Joyce Edwards already owns gold from the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 U18 National Team.
- Chloe Kitts boasts golds from the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship and the 2023 U19 World Cup.
- Maddy McDaniel participated in USA Basketball camps in 2023 and 2024.
- Tessa Johnson made her USA Basketball debut at this event.
With this performance, South Carolina proves it’s not just a powerhouse in 5-on-5—but a rising force in 3×3 basketball as well.
