This year, the Olympics will be a bit different. The summer event will not only feature the traditional five-on-five basketball setup. It will also feature a three-on-three tournament. Unlike the five-on-five tournament, the men’s team did not qualify for the Olympics. In contrast, the women did.
Just a month out from 2021 Summer Olympic Games, the United States has finalized its roster for the inaugural three-on-three tournament. Chicago Sky Center Stefanie Dolson, Dallas Wings Guard Allisha Gray, Las Vegas Aces Guard Kelsey Plum and Seattle Storm Forward Katie Lou Samuelson will represent America in Tokyo, Japan. The four-player squad will be led by their head coach, Kara Lawson.
Dolson and Samuelson are very familiar with each other after playing together at the University of Connecticut. Meanwhile, Plum and Gray played their college ball in the Pac-12 and SEC respectively. Lawson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee before winning a WNBA championship and bringing home an Olympic Gold Medal in 2008. She currently coaches the Duke University Blue Devils in the ACC.
The United States is one of eight qualified teams that will compete next month. Having won the FIBA 3×3 qualifying tournament in May, Team USA enters as the favorite.
Women's hoops fans:
The inaugural 3×3 Olympic competition starts this summer. The Team USA team:
Stefanie Dolson
Allisha Gray
Kelsey Plum
Katie Lou Samuelson
Coach/advisor: Kara Lawson— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 23, 2021
