The American Basketball organization has announced the starting lineup for the 2024 Women’s National 3×3 squad.

Featuring the talented Cameron Brink as a standout, the team will also boast the skills of Rhyne Howard, Hailey Van Lith, and Cierra Burdick. Chosen by a selection panel, the Olympic Games are set to be held in Paris, showcasing what promises to be an exceedingly powerful, adaptable, and all-rounded team.

Just a year prior, Brink, Van Lith, and Burdick guided the USA team to victory at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, securing the gold medal. With a mix of experienced and emerging talents, team cohesion is expected to be even stronger. Van Lith and Burdick, in particular, have been playing alongside each other since the 2022 World Cup.

The announcement of the players selected for the team was met with profound emotional displays across various social media platforms.

At 22, Brink, who was the Los Angeles Sparks’ second pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has consistently performed during her freshman season. With Stanford as her alma mater, Brink’s averages include 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Renowned for her defensive capabilities, her professional performance has lived up to expectations.

Ranking second in the WNBA for total blocks (21) and leading new recruits in that domain, Brink also stands third among her rookie peers for rebounds. As a highly regarded defensive anchor in the league, she excels in defensive boards per contest. With an average of 2.6 blocks per outing, her defensive acumen will be pivotal in the 3×3 format.

After achieving a personal best of 21 points in a recent game against the Fever, the Stanford graduate was honored as the MVP of the 2023 3×3 FIBA World Cup, having steered her team to the top podium. She also played in the 2018 FIBA U17 and 2019 U19 Women’s World Cup teams.

Expanding her team’s offensive options, Brink offers spacing on the floor and can both shoot from the distance and engage in post-up moves. A crucial element will be her prowess in seizing the offensive rebounds.

Introduced at the Tokyo Games in 2021, the 3×3 basketball format promises a riveting yet demanding style of play. Rizzotti and the team are gearing up for their inaugural run in Paris, with the events slated to commence at the twilight of July, stretching into early August.

MVP Periodt and the Sovereign of Brooklyn are dominating WNBA news.

A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces and Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty have undeniably made an impression, influencing the game within and outside the bounds of the court. Formerly competitors in the 2023 WNBA Finals, they have now claimed the titles of Eastern and Western Conference players of the week.

Ionescu is partnered with Nike and recently unwrapped the Sabrina 2s just last month. Around this coinciding period, Wilson disclosed her inaugural shoe, the Nike A’One, slated for a 2025 launch. Wilson now stands alongside Ionescu as one of the trio of active WNBA athletes boasting their own exclusive footwear lines.

Not even a full two months into the current season and Wilson as well as Ionescu are exerting considerable influence on their respective squads’ performances.

Despite Wilson’s impressive credentials as a two-time WNBA Champion, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year, she hasn’t overlooked that one time she was ranked fourth by an MVP voter. And with reason, she perpetuates her response to the skeptics with stellar displays on the basketball court.

A’ja Wilson is once again performing at an MVP level

Off to a blistering start, the Aces star added eight blocks and three steals in both matchups against the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx.

4-2 on the season, Becky Hammon and the Aces suffered a rare 78-74 against the Dream on the road. However, how can we forget Wilson’s unforgettable block on good friend Allisha Gray? It may not have traveled into the concession stand but was a statement block.

On pace for another historical season, Wilson started off the season with five straight double-doubles, owning the longest streak of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in WNBA history. The league leader in blocks with 12.4, Wilson boasted 29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four blocks against the Lynx. And a few days later, she put up 28 points, three assists, one steal, and four blocks against the Dream. Over the two games, Wilson shot 46.1 percent from the field.

Earning the weekly award for the 17th time in her career, Wilson has elevated her game significantly. Through six games into the 2024 season, the Aces star is averaging career-highs in points (26.5), rebounds (12.5), and blocks (2.8). Leading the league in player-estimated impact, Wilson is already poised as one of the all-time greats ever to grace the game.

Sabrina Ionescu’s game has evolved beyond the three-point shot

Nearly 21 percent (31) of Ionescu’s 146 field goal attempts have been delivered as driving layups and floating bank shots. Compare this to last year, where she only attempted 17 floater shots. More confident than ever, the California native averages the most points since her rookie season, with 17.9 points per game. Given she only played three games in her first season, it’s a testament to the dedication, growth, and evolution of her game.

Ionescu started off the week with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists against the Phoenix Mercury at home. According to Liberty PR,  Ionescu became the first player in franchise history to record double-digit points with at least five assists in a single quarter (10 points and five assists).

Just a few days later, No. 20 poured in 24 points, one rebound, three assists, on 50 percent three-point shooting against Washington at the Barclays. To end the week, the former Oregon star put up 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in front of 17,000+ fans against the Indiana Fever.

The Las Vegas Aces (4-2) are set to match up against the Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks this week. The New York Liberty defeated the Chicago Sky 88-75 on Tuesday night, and will matchup with Atlanta, Connecticut, and Washington later this week.

The declaration is official. Following months of deliberation, Canada has been confirmed as the home of the most recent WNBA expansion team. While Toronto emerged as the preferred WNBA location, team leader Teresa Resch expressed a firm sentiment.

“This isn’t just Toronto’s team. This is Canada’s team.”

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert publicized Thursday morning that Toronto has been designated as the 14th franchise.

Positioned as the league’s primary overseas representation, Toronto is expected to commence its inaugural campaign in 2026. Initially revealed by CBCSports writer Shireen Ahmed, the WNBA officially authenticated the breaking news today.

“Bringing a WNBA team to Toronto represents an important milestone for our league as we continue to expand both domestically and outside the United States,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an official press release.

The declaration was not surprising. In association with the progression of women’s basketball, there have been escalating opportunities. Aside from exclusive flights, the league is on a persistent expansion trajectory.

While the 2024 rookie draft group holds a significant place, the elevation of the WNBA has been well chronicled for a substantial period. The most recent squad emerges following the victorious 2023 season. With the phenomenal talent stream carrying on, the WNBA requires additional roster spaces. The incorporation of new franchises will ideally rectify that concern.

Within one of the most competitive sports leagues, there are merely 144 slots, making it challenging to accommodate the entirety of the talent pool. Ultimately, it boils down to the fundamental principle of supply and demand.

During a widespread conference, Engelbert tackled the roster space dilemma. Frequently referencing her economic blueprint, the Commissioner has robust intentions to advance past Toronto and Golden State. In truth, she has set an aspiration to generate nearly 48 roster openings and introduce four extra franchises by 2028.

Embarking into a fresh era, the WNBA observed record-smashing viewership and attendance figures. With viewers escalating by 21 percent from the 2022 season, the league witnessed an attendance escalation of almost 16 percent. Now marking its 27th season, the league is thriving.

Primed for a significant leap, the WNBA has been consistently expanding over time. With the 2024 season just initiating, the matchup between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever captivated 1.71 million viewers, officially marking it as the most-viewed WNBA game ever transmitted on ABC.

While the team is yet to finalize a name, based on Raptors sideline correspondent Savanna Hamilton, Toronto’s WNBA team head Teresa Ranch is open to proposals. She hopes the logo can “represent everyone and women strongly.”

Regarding the venue, the home fixtures are set to occur at Coca-Cola Coliseum, boasting an 8,700-capacity in downtown Toronto. It is anticipated that supplementary games will be hosted at Scotiabank Arena, the domicile of the Toronto Raptors.

Expansion has consistently been a pivotal facet of Englebert’s blueprint, and it is finally taking tangible form. Transparent about her intentions to amplify the league, Engelbert has executed her strategies systematically and meticulously. Today’s breaking news comes a mere nine days after the newest expansion entry, the Golden State Valkyries, declared its appellation and branding.

Following the announcement, the 14th franchise will be overseen and managed by Kilmer Sports Ventures. Larry Tanenbaum, the Chairperson of Kilmer Sports Ventures, is extensively experienced in both commerce and championship accolades.

As a member of the NBA Board of Governors and the Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Tanenbaum possesses nearly three decades of industry experience. In a formal statement, Engelbert expressed her profound admiration for Tanenbaum.

“With Larry Tanenbaum’s distinguished record of leading successful sports franchises and Toronto’s appeal as a dynamic, diverse city that cares deeply about the game of basketball, we are confident that this new team will thrive as a first-class WNBA organization and become a great source of inspiration and support for the Toronto-area community and across Canada,” said Engelbert.

Amidst this historical revelation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in attendance, alongside Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Devoted to enhancing the women’s sports domain, the squad disclosed intentions of constructing a cutting-edge training practice facility. In prior years, the absence of names on player lockers was an issue.

In conjunction with Toronto, Seattle, and Las Vegas have made considerate investments in their players through modern training centers. It’s just a matter of time before each athlete gains access to adequate training and recovery amenities league-wide.

Women’s athletics have taken root and are poised for ascension. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow officially labeled May 23 as WNBA Day in Toronto. Since the onslaught of Engelbert, the league has been steadily progressing.

Through negotiations on the CBA, the initiation of charter flights, and the extension of the league into two new locales, the future appears promising for the WNBA. It may not be flawless, but transformations are on the horizon.

Fans interested in securing season passes can place a deposit via WNBA.com/Toronto.