It was their toughest test but the USA Basketball U16 women's team passed Monday with a 79-59 gold medal victory over Canada in the FIBA Americas Championships in Mexico. It was the fourth straight gold for the United States.
Tournament MVP
Jerzy Robinson led the USA with 24 points on 10 of 19 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds. She made more news Tuesday with reports that she will leave Arizona and transfer to
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) ahead of her sophomore year confirmed by MaxPreps.
Robinson averaged 17.3 points and 10.2 rebounds with a tournament-best 20.8 efficiency rating while Woliczko averaged 11.8 points and shot 62 percent over the six games.
"It's just an incredible honor," head coach Dan Rolfes of
Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) said. "I'm just so excited for these girls. This has been 27-straight days to come together as a team, to play as a team. I just couldn't be happier for these girls. They are great on and off the floor…and to continue the legacy and success that USA Basketball has is fantastic."
Savannah Swords of
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) led Canada with 22 points in the loss.
The Americans rolled to the championship game, scoring at least 93 points in each of their first five outings in Mexico.
In the gold medal contest, the USA outscored Canada 22-8 in the second quarter and took a 41-20 edge into intermission. The Americans used their size on the boards, grabbing a 55-28 rebounding edge that led to 29 second-chance points compared to 13 for the Canadians.
Lanie Grant of
James River Midlothian (Midlothian, Va.) was the only other player in double figures for the United States on Monday, scoring 11.
With the win, the United States qualified for the 2024 FIBA Women's U17 World Cup in Mexico.
2023 USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team
Dee Alexander,
Purcell Marian (Cincinnati) | 2025
Kelsi Andrews,
Hazel Green (Ala.) | 2026
Addison Bjorn,
Park Hill South (Riverside, Mo.) | 2026
Aaliyah Crump,
Minnetonka (Minnetonka, Minn.) | 2025
Lanie Grant,
James River Midlothian (Midlothian, Va.) | 2025
Jayla Jackson,
Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) | 2026
Trinity Jones,
Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.) | 2026
Lola Lampley,
Lawrence Central (Indianapolis) | 2026
Jerzy Robinson,
Desert Vista (Phoenix) | 2026
Hailee Swain,
Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta) | 2025
McKenna Woliczko,
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) | 2026
