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Tori McKinney Joins Team USA for 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup

USA player shooting a basketball during match
Basketball

Tori McKinney’s rise continues — and now it goes global.

The Minnesota guard has earned a spot on Team USA for the 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup in Wuhan, China, after helping the Americans storm through the Americas Conference this summer.

From Chile to China

Back in July, McKinney and her USA teammates did exactly what they needed to do: win the Americas Conference and leave no doubt. The qualifying event, staged in Ñuñoa, Chile, ran from June 27 to July 3 and unfolded across six intense days of individual “stops.”

USA owned the Americas North division, stacking up points and wins until the lone qualifying berth belonged to them. By the end, the ticket to Wuhan was secure.

Now, that dominance sends McKinney to the 3x3 U23 World Cup, set for Sept. 15-19, 2026, where every possession will move at breakneck speed.

Built for 3x3

The 3x3 game is ruthless. Half-court. Twelve-second shot clock. First to 21 or whoever leads after 10 minutes. There’s no time to hide, no time to coast.

It suits players who think fast, move faster, and never stop competing. McKinney checks every box.

She’s coming off a breakout sophomore season at Minnesota, where she helped drive the Golden Gophers to their first Sweet Sixteen in more than 20 years. Her impact cut across every line on the box score and every possession on the floor.

The Minnetonka native became the engine of the Maroon and Gold offense, averaging a team-best 12.7 points per game, up from 10.6 as a freshman. Her game sharpened as the season wore on: over Minnesota’s final 11 regular-season contests, she poured in 15.9 points per game, dished 33 assists, and led the team with 24 steals in that stretch.

Coaches and media took notice. McKinney earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches, Third Team recognition from the media, and a spot on the All-Big Ten Defensive Team. She also rewrote the program’s record book with a single-season assist/turnover ratio of 2.20 — a number that speaks directly to the kind of decision-making 3x3 demands.

Quick reads. Clean passes. No wasted possessions.

USA’s U23 Core

  • McKinna Brackens (Arizona State)
  • Dani Carnegie (Iowa)
  • Katie Fiso (Oregon)
  • Tori McKinney (Minnesota)

Four players, one half-court, and a World Cup on the line.

For McKinney, it’s another stage, another test, and another chance to show that the spark she brought to Minnesota can light up the international game.

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