US women win first 3-on-3 world basketball title

USA’s Chiney Ogwumike, center, Bria Hartley, left and Ann Strother,right, celebrate their win against France during the final basketball game for the 3X3 World basketball Championship in front of Zappeion hall in Athens, Sunday Aug. 26, 2012. USA women’s team won the game 17 – 16. AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis

ATHENS, Greece – The United States women’s team won the inaugural 3-on-3 world basketball championship by beating France 17-16 in Sunday’s final.

Serbia won the men’s title by beating France 16-13 in the title match.

The US men were eliminated by Serbia in the quarterfinals, losing 20-16. Their overall record in the 4-day tournament was 5-2.

The US women went 9-0 but were pushed hard by Australia in the semifinals earlier Sunday, winning 19-18.

The winning US team was made up of three current college players in Notre Dame senior Skylar Diggins, University of Connecticut junior Bria Hartley and Stanford junior Chiney Ogwumike, plus retired pro and former UConn standout Ann Strother.

FIBA, the world basketball federation, is pushing have the 3-on-3 format included at the 2016 Rio Olympics.