Young players find valuable experience in USA Basketball’s 3×3 camp in Phoenix

Adjusting to 3×3

Due to their lack of 3×3 experience, the camp in Phoenix was a learning opportunity for many of the players. Whether it was adjusting to new rules, new court dimensions or a new ball (the FIBA 3×3 ball is the size of a women’s ball and the weight of a men’s ball with ridges and divots all the way around), the players in camp did as much as they could to take it all in.

“It’s been cool. [I’m] just learning a lot,” New York Liberty guard Jaylyn Sherrod told the media. “I never did 3×3 before ever, so taking in as much information as possible, but also, just learning and asking questions. I always ask questions, so just trying to learn as much as possible and get to know who I’m playing with also.” 

Although picking up the new style of play opened their eyes to areas of improvement for their game, it also allowed players to display skills they may not get as many chances to show off playing 5×5.

For example, former Columbia guard Abbey Hsu used her ability to efficiently knock down shots from outside to boost her team during scrimmages. Both she and Sherrod said the better spacing on the court gave them more opportunities to attack and create for themselves.

Even players with more experience in 3×3, like Washington Mystics forward Emily Engstler still learned new things about their game after playing in camp. Engstler emphasized how her aggressiveness on offense has allowed her to succeed in 3×3, while also acknowledging how the pace of play can be difficult to catch up to, even for a 3×3 veteran.

“3×3 is the kind of thing that very quickly teaches you what you’re not good at,” Engstler told The Next. “And I say that because it’s a good thing. It shows you what you need to work on. For example, 3×3 is the kind of game where you need to get off your shot fast, and for me, that’s something I could be better at. So it just reminds me when I’m at home when I’m training, that’s something I need to get better at, so I can use it for 3×3 and also 5×5.” 

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Breaking into the WNBA

The knowledge players gained from attending camp wasn’t limited to just 3×3. Of the 13 players selected for the camp, only four had spent more than three years in the WNBA. The younger players got to pick the brains of the veterans about developing in the league. This was especially valuable to players like Sherrod who spent most of her time with the Liberty on the bench and Hsu who is still on the hunt to make her first WNBA roster.

“I’ve kind of just been talking ​​to everybody, seeing their experience, both here and overseas, because currently I’m overseas,” Hsu told The Next. “So just picking their brains about that, and it’s refreshing to be around all these minds and know that you’re not alone in this process like it’s just stick to the course, and it’ll all work out.

Hsu, drafted in 2024 by the Connecticut Sun, did not survive the training camp roster cuts. She and Minnesota Lynx forward Alissa Pili were the only 2024 draftees selected for this camp. The other rookie joining them was Sherrod, who went undrafted and signed with the Liberty midseason on July 6.

Despite playing in just 10 games with the Liberty and averaging 3.7 minutes per game, her ability to remain on the roster through the end of the season is a testament to the potential the organization saw in her. Because she proved that she belonged in the league, she went from being an undrafted rookie to a WNBA champion in just over six months, which taught her an important lesson.

“Being where my feet are, honestly, that’s the biggest lesson,” Sherrod said. “I was a planner. I planned all throughout college. … [With] basketball, I would watch film days before, stuff like that. But just really taking in the moments and being where my feet are, and really just embracing the process and enjoying life for what it is and what I wanted to be, probably was the biggest lesson of just finding joy in everything that I was doing.”

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Leveling up on the court

While players swapped pieces of advice about intangible characteristics and handling the business side of basketball, there was also plenty of ball knowledge disseminated through the player ranks.

Sherrod, a player often heralded for her defensive intensity, got to train with Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, with whom she shares a similar play style. Being in camp also highlighted areas of improvement Sherrod intends to address in the offseason to try to move up the ranks in the league.

“Honestly, [being] more of a threat offensively, and then, just getting a read,” Sherrod said. “I think the pros are so much different from college. I mean, you have sets, but it’s more like understanding your teammates, understanding the system more than the play.”

Just being in camp and being around players who have already made it to the league was impactful for Hsu. As she returns to playing overseas, she looks to improve her defense, something she had the opportunity to address playing in a development camp with WNBA players.

“I know it’s not going to come overnight, so that’s what’s also nice competing against these girls because you’re competing against some of the best players in the country,” Hsu said. “So there’s no better way to work on your defense than guarding them.”

While the focus was on 3×3, Engstler got the opportunity to continue building team chemistry with Sykes, Mystics’ center Shakira Austin and guard Sug Sutton who were also on the Development camp roster. Engstler, Sykes and Austin even got to play on the same team in some of the scrimmages.

Outside of continuing to build relationships with and learning from her own teammates, Engstler enjoyed getting to be on the same side as players who typically line up across from her in the WNBA.

“You got Natasha Howard, someone who I play against all the time, who’s a really good vet, who’s someone you want to learn from,” Engstler said. “So watching her play and [I’m] kind of trying to gain stuff through watching her play in this 3×3. I made a joke to her in the locker room about her little shake-and-bake move. I was like, ‘I want that.’ 

“Stuff like that is what allows me to grow in the 5×5 game, especially in the W being able to talk to them one-on-one. We’re not on the same team, so I don’t get to ask her things like that, but she’s a great [example].”

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