Hailey Van Lith, Dearica Hamby, and More – A Detailed Look at 3*3 Women’s Basketball Team USA’s Stats Ahead of Paris Olympics 2024

The stage was set for the stars to roar when the 3*3 Team USA women’s basketball squad battled against the U23 Team on Friday. The WNBA All-Star event added a major star to their armor just ahead of the Paris Olympics. The game at one point was poised in favor of the U23 team. But that did not deter the spirits of Rhyne Howard who scored 10 points that night and shifted the momentum towards the national team.

Ultimately, the national team won by a 19-16 margin and now they are preparing for the journey ahead. The squad is composed of four players: Dearica Hamby, Hailey Van Lith, Howard, and Cierra Burdick. Here’s a look at the team heading for gold.

Hailey Van Lith

Hailey Van Lith is the only college player in the team of four. Van Lith initially plied her trade for the Louisville Cardinals before transferring to the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers for the 2023-24 season. During three years with the Cardinals, Van Lith scored 11.2 points per game in her freshman year along with 5.2 rebounds per game. Growth then came her way when he averaged 14.4 points and 3.6 rounds per game the next year. But the Junior year was even bigger.

In her third year with the Cardinals, the now 22-year-old emerged as a mainstay for the team. With an average of 19.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, Van Lith came to a reliance, to be trusted with the scoring whenever the team needed. From an off-ball scoring role, she switched to play to shooting guard and primary ball handler with the LSU, averaging 11.6 points per game with 3.6 assists per game. In all four years, she made it to the NCAA Tournament.

As for her International run, the 22-year-old has excelled to adorn 5 gold medals – 4 in youth and 1 as a senior team member in 3×3 World Cup 2023. “I am extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity. I cannot wait to compete in Paris and be able to showcase my skills,” she expressed over her next big international feat.

Dearica Hamby

Dearica Hamby, who replaces Cameron Brink on the roster, was drafted in 2015 as the sixth overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces then called the San Antonio Stars. She played for the team for eight years and was a major star in their then lineup. She spent the first four seasons adjusting to the team when in 2019, she was named the Sixth Woman of the Year while also dropping the shot of the year. Her best for the Aces came in 2020 when she averaged a decent 13 points per game with 7.1 rebounds per game.

However, post her eight seasons, she was recruited by the Los Angeles Sparks. The 2024 season has been the best WNBA season so far for Hamby who now averages a whopping 19.2 points per game with 10 rebounds per game. Other than she has 3.5 assists per game this season. It was truly a ladder of growth for Hamby, who was ranked 93 out of 100 by ESPN coming off highschool. “It’s just a testament to my resiliency,” the 30-year-old adds.

Rhyne Howard

Howard was the first-round pick in the 2022 WNBA season by the Atlanta Dream. She is playing her third season for the Dream and in the exhibition game has stunned all with her performance. In her first season with the Dream, Howard averaged an exceptional 16.2 points per game with 4.5 rebounds per game.

During the next season, she amped up her performance as she scored 17.5 points per game with 4.9 rebounds per game. Hence, if there is one major force in the team, it has to be Howard. She can be the warrior for the national team considering she has scored an overall 34.1% three-pointers in the W. As for her current season, Howard averages 15.4 points per game with 4.9 rebounds per game.

Her versatility is believed to be the key for the team. “Positionally, you can put her as a screener, as a shooter, you can post her up — and defensively, she has the versatility to guard across the board,” head coach Jennifer Rizzotti explained.

Cierra Burdick

Burdick was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round in 2015. Since then she has plied her trade for various teams including Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm. She is a decent player who hasn’t been awarded the best amount of time to play in the WNBA.

Overall, throughout her career, her playing time as well as the number of games she has got to represent have been quite low. However going by her college stats, Burdick averages 8.1 points per game with 6 rebounds per game. Moreover, she has been a part of the FIBA 3*3 Women’s series for past four years, adorning immense experience, enough to guide the new ones on court, coach Rizzotti believes. Burdick has two World Cup title, one AmeriCup, and one Pan American in the format. She is, thus, expected be the coach’s extension on the court.

The way the 3*3 team is playing makes them hopeful for gold at the Paris Olympics. However, the format is new and can have last-minute table-turners. Hopefully, the Team USA will etch their names in gold at the Paris Olympics much like the 5*5 dominance they have established over the years.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.