PARIS, France — Despite a rough start to the Paris Olympics, the Team USA 3x3 women's basketball team that includes Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith won a bronze medal in a tight game Monday.
The U.S. team lost each of its first three games in Paris, which was a surprise to many given the country's general dominance in basketball and the American team winning gold in the event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Van Lith played alongside three professional players: Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks, Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream and Cierra Burdick of Valencia Basket Club. Van Lith was the lone college player on the team and transferred to Texas Christian University after previously playing for the University of Louisville and Louisiana State University.
Losses to Germany, Azerbaijan and Australia to start off the Olympics had fans wondering if the team would even advance out of the pool play. Team USA then rattled off five straight wins to make it into the semifinals before ultimately losing to Spain earlier in the day Monday.
Van Lith led the American team in the bronze medal game with six points despite playing the fewest minutes on her team.
She spoke with KING 5's Chris Egan after winning bronze about just how difficult it was to medal.
"I'm really proud of us," she said. "People don't understand how hard three-on-three is and the uniqueness of the sport. And for us to start zero and three and go six of seven in the next seven games, against the seven best teams in the world, is actually incredible."