Stefanie Dolson, Katie Lou Samuelson named to US 3x3 Olympic team

Two more former UConn women’s basketball stars are heading to Tokyo. On Wednesday, USA Basketball named both Stefanie Dolson and Katie Lou Samuelson to the 3x3 Olympic roster alongside Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum. All four players helped the US qualify back in May.

This is the first year where 3x3 basketball will be an Olympic event. Dolson and Samuelson are first-time Olympians.

Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi made the US 5x5 squad announced on Monday.

Dolson received her first call-up to the senior national team in 2013 and has six caps overall. She also played for youth national teams and won gold with USA at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the 2011 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Samuelson has played 57 games with the national team between 5x5 and 3x3 competitions. She helped the US earn gold at the 2019 AmeriCup as well as five other junior national team competitions. Samuelson is experienced with 3x3 basketball, having taken home gold in the event at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the 2013 FIBA U18 World Cup. She’ll be the first USA Basketball athlete ever to compete in both the Youth Olympic Games and senior Olympic Games.

The inaugural 3x3 basketball competition at the Olympics will feature eight teams and runs from July 24-28 at Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo Harbor. The opening round will be held on July 24-27, the quarterfinals on July 27, and the semifinals and final on July 28. The US will be competing with China, France, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, and Russia for gold.

3x3 basketball became an international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympics. It’s played with a 12-second shot clock on a half-court. Baskets inside the arc are worth one point while those behind it are worth two. The winner is the first team to score 21 or whoever is leading after 10 minutes. Each team includes four players: Three on the court and one substitute.