Hailey Van Lith and the Team USA 3×3 women’s basketball squad will leave Paris as Olympic medalists after overcoming a disappointing 0–3 start to the 2024 Games, ultimately defeating Canada on Monday to secure the bronze medal.
Van Lith led the Americans with six points on 5-of-7 shooting in their 16–13 victory over the Canadians.
The team mounted a remarkable comeback from a 12–9 deficit in the final three minutes, finishing the game on a dominant 7–1 run.
Van Lith was the top scorer for Team USA throughout the tournament, amassing 47 total points, which ranked eighth overall in the 3×3 competition.
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“Winning a medal for your country just makes you super proud,” Van Lith said after the game. “Even after the game, I got super emotional. There just aren’t enough words. You just feel so proud. You’re just so thankful for your family and friends and everyone who cheered and supported you.
“If they will have me again at the next [Olympics], I’ll be back.”
Team USA had a challenging start, losing its first three games in pool play against Germany, Azerbaijan, and Australia. However, they rebounded impressively with five straight wins to advance to the semifinals. Despite a hard-fought 18–16 overtime loss to Spain in the semifinal, which denied them a chance to compete for the gold medal against Germany, they triumphed over Canada to secure some hardware in Paris.
“Not the medal we wanted, obviously, but I don’t want to take away from the moment,” Cierra Burdick said after the bronze medal match. “A lot of gratitude. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears were invested into this. That’s so cliché, but it’s so true.”
The perseverance and resilience displayed by Van Lith and her teammates have earned them a well-deserved place on the Olympic podium, a testament to their dedication and hard work throughout the competition.
