The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 will go for her second goal medal of the summer.
UConn women’s basketball freshman Sarah Strong was one of four players named to USA 3×3’s U18 World Cup squad on Tuesday. The tournament will be held in Debrecen, Hungary from Aug. 26-30.
Strong has spent plenty of time playing for the youth national teams — especially the 3×3 squads. She’s previously been on the 2024 USA Junior National Select Team as well as the 2022 and 2023 USA 3×3 U18 squads. Strong has three gold medals to her name: One from the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup earlier this summer and two from the 3×3 U18 World Cups in 2022 and 2023. Strong also earned a spot on the USA Nike Hoops Summit squad this past spring.
Lauded for her versatility, Strong has the idea skillset for 3×3 basketball. Played on a half court with a running 10 minute game clock and 14-second shot clock, 3×3 promotes a continuous, positionless style of play. Whichever team gets to 21 points first (shots inside the arc count for one point, outside the arc is two points) or is leading when the clock expires wins.
Strong arrived in Storrs for summer workouts as the No. 1 player in the class of 2024. Though she only spent a few weeks with the team before departing for national team duties ahead of the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, the freshman impressed in that limited time.
“I think the best players are the ones that go, ‘Coach, I can fill any position you want me to play. Just put me in that spot. Put me out on the court. I’ll figure it out.’ And she’s that kind of kid. I can put her anywhere,” Geno Auriemma said.
“She does a lot of things on the court. She can pass really well. I think her IQ is very high, that’s what stands out to me,” Paige Bueckers added. “She can shoot it, she can drive it, she defends well, so she’s very versatile.”
USA will kick off the World Cup in Pool D against Egypt on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 a.m. ET followed by a matchup with Latvia at 8:45 a.m. ET that same day. After a break, the Americans will wrap up pool play on Thursday against New Zealand (6:55 a.m. ET) and Poland (8:45 a.m. ET). The top two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
All the games will be streamed live on the FIBA 3×3 YouTube channel.
The rest of Team USA’s roster features Jasmine Davidson, Saniyah Hall and Arianna Roberson.