SANTIAGO (Chile) –The FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2025 not only crowned a new champion and qualified teams for the next stage of the World Cup cycle. It also served as a showcase for a new generation of players who are beginning to make their mark on continental basketball. From standout performances in key games to individual awards, several young talents stole the spotlight and proved that the future of women’s basketball in the Americas is in good hands. Here are the top young performers from the tournament:
Mikayla Blakes (USA)
Date of birth: December 29, 2005 Height: 172 cm / 5'8" Position: Shooting guard Team/Club: Vanderbilt University (USA) As we know, the U.S. squad was made up entirely of players under 23. While all of them contributed to the title run and deserve recognition, Blakes—one of the youngest at just 19—stood out above the rest. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after a stellar performance in the Final against Brazil, where she scored 27 points. The Vanderbilt guard hit double digits in six of her team's seven games.
Bella Nascimento (BRA)
Date of birth: August 21, 2002 Height: 164 cm / 5'5" Position: Point guard Team/Club: William & Mary Tribe (USA) Behind veterans Damiris Dantas and Kamilla Cardoso, Nascimento was the most impressive player for the runners-up. She stood out especially with her three-point shooting, making 48 percent of her shots from beyond the arc (24-50). She scored 22 points in the Semi-Final against Argentina and 24 in the Final against the USA, both personal bests in the tournament. She earned a spot on the All-Tournament Second Team thanks to her 15.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Syla Swords (CAN)
Date of birth: January 28, 2006 Height: 183 cm / 6'0" Position: Shooting guard / Small forward Team/Club: University of Michigan (USA) Swords secured the bronze medal for Canada with a game-winning buzzer-beater in double overtime against Argentina. There was little time to celebrate, though, as she had to quickly shift her focus to join the squad currently competing at the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. She scored 23 points in that bronze medal game and averaged 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists overall, while shooting 42 percent from deep. She was also named to the All-Star Five.
Gabriela Jáquez (MEX)
Date of birth: November 19, 2003 Height: 183 cm / 6'0" Position: Small forward Team/Club: UCLA (USA) In her AmeriCup debut, Jáquez averaged 12.0 points (eighth best in the tournament), 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. She had a 22-point outing and three other games with 15 points, including the win over the Dominican Republic in the 7th Place game. She was recognized with the tournament’s Rising Star award.
Trinity San Antonio (PUR)
Date of birth: October 28, 2003 Height: 174 cm / 5'9" Position: Point guard Team/Club: Toulouse Metropole Basket (FRA) After a strong showing at the Paris Olympic Games, San Antonio solidified her role with the national team at the AmeriCup. She posted career-best averages of 10.1 points and 2.9 assists per game. In the crucial win over Mexico that secured Puerto Rico’s spot in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments, she played a key role with 17 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Joyce Edwards (USA)
Date of birth: January 30, 2006 Height: 190 cm / 6'3" Position: Power forward Team/Club: University of South Carolina (USA) Edwards played a crucial role anchoring the paint for the champions. Despite being the youngest player on the U.S. roster, she held her own in tough matchups against seasoned post players. Against Colombia in the Group Phase, she recorded 13 points and 9 rebounds. In the Final against Brazil, she tallied 11 points and 7 boards against none other than Damiris Dantas and Kamilla Cardoso. She finished the tournament averaging 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Delaney Gibb (CAN)
Date of birth: August 27, 2005 Height: 179 cm / 5'10" Position: Point guard Team/Club: Brigham Young University (USA) Gibb brought energy and consistency off the bench, averaging 9.1 points per game. She showcased strong perimeter defense and hit 40 percent of her three-pointers (10-25). In the bronze medal win over Argentina, she delivered arguably the tournament’s most important assist, executing a sideline inbounds play perfectly to find Syla Swords under the basket. She finished that game with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Anisa Jeffreis (MEX)
Date of birth: April 13, 2004 Height: 181 cm / 5'11" Position: Power forward Team/Club: TEC de Monterrey (MEX) Jefreis was one of Mexico’s most consistent contributors throughout the competition, averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. Together with Gabriela Jáquez, she forms a powerful forward duo with great long-term potential. She proved effective both in the low post and attacking the basket face-up. She recorded two double-doubles, 15 points and 11 rebounds versus Colombia, and 12 and 11 versus the Dominican Republic in the 7th Place game.
Cesarina Capellán (DOM)
Date of birth: July 3, 2003 Height: 178 cm / 5'10" Position: Small forward / Shooting guard Team/Club: Free agent Capellán’s performance stood out in contrast to her team’s struggles. With Esmery Martínez absent, she became the team’s primary offensive weapon. She faced intense defensive pressure throughout the tournament but still averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Valentina Ojeda (CHI)
Date of birth: February 27, 2003 Height: 180 cm / 5'11" Position: Power forward Team/Club: Free agent Ojeda was one of the bright spots for the host nation in a winless campaign. This year, she finished her college career in the U.S. and returned to the national team for the first time since her debut at the 2022 South American Championship. She averaged 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and led her team in efficiency (8.0). FIBA