Top 3x3 women to watch at Paris Olympics

PARIS (France) - The moment has almost arrived and 3x3's wonder women are ready to shine at the Paris Olympics.

Here are the very best 3x3 players you just have to watch on the big stage.

Hailey Van Lith (USA)

HVL has long been destined to be an Olympian. She had her 3x3 breakout in 2018 when the then 16-year-old helped USA win gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Van Lith has been a force ever since for Team USA although she wasn't part of their historic gold medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 5ft. 9in (1.75) firebrand, whose intensity and sheer skill once propelled Kobe Bryant to reach out to her, has been on a mission in recent years on the half-court with an eye towards Paris 2024. 

She's had plenty of success in the process, highlighted by winning the World Cup 2023 to end a nine-year drought for USA. 

Van Lith was a natural selection for the USA's Olympic squad, but she was still overwhelmed as her dreams came true. She will again proudly wear No.9 - fittingly the most famous jersey number in U.S. Olympic basketball history, previously worn by icons Michael Jordan and Lisa Leslie.

By the time Paris is over, HVL might be an Olympic legend in her own right. 

 

Laetitia Guapo (France)

Powerhouse France don't have fond memories of Tokyo after finishing in the agonizing position of fourth. Their star Laetitia Guapo struggled to get going. but the disappointment has only made her stronger. 

She's had a point to prove ever since and was at the heart of France's historic World Cup and Europe Cup titles in 2022. 

She's continued to play well on the big stage after leading France to silver at last year's World Cup and being named on the Team of the Tournament. 

The 28-year-old again has stepped up this year and averaged 5.8 ppg on the Women's Series, with leaders France already capturing three titles this season.

All eyes will be on Guapo as 5000 passionate fans will ignite La Concorde every time France takes the half-court. It's a heavy burden, but Guapo has been steeling herself for this moment ever since being left heartbroken in Tokyo. 

 

Katherine/Michelle Plouffe (Canada) 

Powerhouse Canada has been near the top of the rankings for many years largely due to the reliable Plouffe twins. 

Canada are lucky to have two giants patrolling the paint. It means they have a size advantage almost every time they step on the half-court because few teams have two 6ft. 3in (1.9m) athletic marvels blessed with high 3x3 IQ. 

The Plouffe sisters are combining for almost 13 ppg on the Women's Series to cement their status as the deadliest one-two punch in the game. 

Katherine is the current No.1 ranked player in the world, while Michelle is third,  but it's the first time they'll experience the Olympics. 

It's a stage the siblings should relish as they hope to be singing 'Oh Canada' by the end of the tournament. 

 

Sandra Ygueravide (Spain)

Who might be the most emotional player in Paris? It could be Sandra Ygueravide, who thought her Olympic dream might have flamed out after Spain agonizingly missed out on the Tokyo Olympics. 

After years of heartbreak at major events, Ygueravide could have given up knowing she was at the twilight of a stellar career.

But it's only made her more determined. She has the heart of a champion, after all. 

The 5ft. 8in (1.72m) Ygueravide is all passion and pride to underline the fighting qualities of Spain. And she might be in the form of her life, with Ygueravide winning MVP at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Bordeaux Stop.

No doubt the 39-year-old will be emotional when she first steps on the Olympic half-court, but after that she will be all business in her quest for gold. 

 

Marena Whittle (Australia)

Australia have been unbeatable in 2024, with four titles from four events. Much of their success lies with spark plug Marena Whittle, who gets her team going when they face adversity. 

Australia don't have a player over 6ft (1.83m), but Whittle measuring just under plays like she's much taller.

With sheer strength and determination, Whittle can outmuscle and simply out psych bigger opponents as her relentless energy lifts Gangurrus to new heights.  

Playing with so much heart, Whittle leaves it all on the half-court and no one - not even her exhausted opponents - would begrudge her winning gold. 

Marie-Eve Paget (France)

Like teammate Guapo, Paget will be out to bury the ghosts of Tokyo. And she's been on a tear ever since with the 29-year-old's silky skills often igniting France.

The 5ft. 7in (1.7m) Paget is electric on the half-court, with insane ball-handling skills and she can also go on heaters.

She will be a crowd favorite at La Concorde and you'll know when she does something insane because the venue will be shaking. 

 

Dearica Hamby (USA)

Team USA's gold medal defense suffered a blow when phenom Cameron Brink was ruled out due to injury. 

But there was no reason to panic with Brink replaced by Los Angeles Sparks teammate Dearica Hamby, who has taken her game to a new level in the WNBA this season and she is averaging a double-double. 

The towering 6ft. 3in (1.9m) Hamby might even be better on the half-court, where she has plenty of fond memories. The 30-year-old was explosive to lead USA to victory at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023, where she took home MVP. 

You just know Dearica Hamby will be making the most of her unexpected Olympic lifeline. 

 

Tiffany Hayes (Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan has already performed a 3x3 miracle by qualifying for the Olympics, but they aren't done shocking the world. 

And they have a great chance of again going on a giant-killing run because Tiffany Hayes can go toe-to-toe with anyone. The 5ft.10in (1.78m) scoring machine was the hero in Azerbaijan's stunning qualification in Hong Kong, where she averaged a team high 6.5 ppg to walk off with the MVP. 

Hayes, who recently came out of WNBA retirement to sign with Las Vegas Aces, isn't just skill, she has a lot of guts too. She played under the duress of an injury in Hong Kong, but gave it everything she had to ensure Azerbaijan created history.

The former UConn women's basketball star is now fit and firing, and getting ready to perform her latest miracle. 

 

Lili Wang (China) 

You would expect nothing else from one of the most clutch performers we've seen in women's 3x3, but Lili Wang absolutely loves being an Olympian. 

She was lights out in Tokyo to finish equal leading scorer as she led China to bronze.

Things have been tougher more recently for last year's Women's Series MVP with Wang injuring a knee late last season to threaten her Paris Olympics hopes. 

But you just can't write off a champion and Wang worked extra hard to ensure she made a swift recovery. She's enjoyed a remarkable return on the Women's Series to enter Paris in peak form. 

The 31-year-old is is now eying gold and if she achieves that then she will join her proud country's long list of Olympic heroes. 

 

FIBA