The schedule is set; pools are in place and so is the US Team for the 3×3 Women's AmeriCup 2026. The defending champions are sending their best four for the tournament, all with WNBA experience, to San Salvador, El Salvador, to bring the title home. One of them tasked with the job is Flau'jae Johnson, who felt blessed with the opportunity.
"Blessings All Glory To God," Johnson wrote on X
, replying to a post by the Seattle Storm's social media page that broke the news to the WNBA fans.
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This is Flau'jae Johnson's first time representing the US team in a 3×3 competition, but not in AmeriCup. Previously, she was part of Team USA that won a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.
The former LSU guard also just wrapped a successful rookie season with the Storm. The Golden State Valkyries selected the 2023 NCAA champion 8th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She was traded the same night to the Storm, where she averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40.2% from the field.
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Head coach Sonia Raman showed deep trust in her rookie, inserting her in the starting lineup. Johnson didn't disappoint. Flau'jae Johnson was second among all rookies in points and rebounds per game.
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The Americans have selected the four players to shut down the latest challenge to their regional supremacy. The other three names on the list released by the US team serve their purpose of regional dominance in basketball. Aerial Powers, Sydney Taylor and Aziaha James were the other three names on the list.
James, the second-year guard from the Dallas Wings, will make her first appearance in a national team jersey. 11-year veteran and WNBA champion Powers is the oldest name on the roster and comes with ample experience. She was part of the 2026 women's team at the FIBA 3×3 Women's Series.
"Honored to represent my country at the 2026 AmeriCup," Powers wrote in her IG Story after the official announcement.
Taylor also comes with a lot of international experience. She was part of the 3×3 national team at the 3×3 Women's Series in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, she was also part of the USA 3×3 Nations League Team.
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Christina Batastini, who led Team USA to a gold medal at last year's 3×3 Women's AmeriCup, will lead the team as head coach. Batastini has led multiple national 3×3 teams to success in the past. This year, she led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Women's World Cup. She also led the US team to a bronze medal at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Women's Champions Cup. Batastini has also coached the US team at the FIBA 3×3 Women's Series.
The US women's team won gold medals in 2021, 2023, and 2025. A deeper roster with ample WNBA experience should give them an edge over their competitors. The Americans will have two more teams with them in Pool B. Aside from the Cayman Islands, the winner of Qualifying Draw A between Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia will be in Pool B.
Last year, the US team defeated Brazil in the gold medal game for the third championship title. But it is Canada that remains the biggest threat to their regional dominance. In 2024, they lost to Canada in the gold medal game, and in 2022, the Canadians took them out in the semifinals.
The Americans will start their gold medal campaign at 5:50 p.m. ET on Oct. 31 against the winner of Qualifying Draw A. They will then play the Cayman Islands at 9:20 p.m. ET on the same day.
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