South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards now owns four international gold medals after helping Team USA claim the championship at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
The Americans secured the title with a dramatic 21-20 victory over Australia, decided by a clutch two-point basket from LSU guard Mikaylah Williams in the closing moments. The gold represented Edwards’ first medal in the 3×3 format, having previously earned all three of her international titles in traditional five-on-five competition — the 2023 U19 World Cup alongside future Gamecock teammate Chloe Kitts, the 2024 U18 AmeriCup, and the 2025 AmeriCup.
A Historic Moment for the Gamecock Program
Edwards became the first South Carolina player to medal at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. She follows a trail blazed by former Gamecock Allisha Gray, who captured 3×3 gold at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2025 3×3 AmeriCup, and added a bronze at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup.
Edwards was joined on the USA roster by former Gamecock and current LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, alongside Mikaylah Williams and Oklahoma forward Sahara Williams. The quartet had already been building chemistry heading into the World Cup, having won two stops on the 3×3 World Series circuit earlier this summer in Chengdu, China, and Manila, Philippines — dropping just one game across both events.
A Dominant Run Through the Tournament
Team USA went undefeated at the World Cup — a remarkable achievement for a roster composed entirely of college players competing against senior national teams from across the globe.
In group play, the Americans defeated Hungary, Australia, Mongolia, and Spain, navigating a two-day opening round with convincing results. Edwards was a consistent contributor throughout. Against Hungary she recorded three points, eight rebounds, and an assist. She followed that with four points, four rebounds, and two blocks against Australia. Against Mongolia she produced the best individual line of her tournament — a team-high seven points and eight rebounds to go with a block. She contributed four points and a block in the final group stage win over Spain.
Team USA entered the knockout rounds with an automatic quarterfinal bye, then dispatched France 18-16 before surviving a tense 19-18 overtime victory over Azerbaijan in the semifinals. Edwards had six points and a team-high four rebounds against France and three points with three rebounds in the semifinal. She closed out the gold medal game against Australia with four points, two rebounds, and an assist.
Building on Last Summer’s Foundation
This was not Edwards’ first experience in 3×3 competition for Team USA. She and Fulwiley were part of the USA Basketball 3×3 Nations League squad the previous summer, going 14-2 in Punta Arenas, Chile, to claim that tournament title as well.
The gold also continued USA Basketball’s dominance in the format. The program has now claimed four FIBA 3×3 World Cup gold medals — more than any other nation — after being upset in the quarterfinals a year ago.
Bottom Line
Edwards has quietly assembled one of the most decorated international track records of any college player in the country, and she has done it across multiple formats and competition levels. Four gold medals before her junior season at South Carolina is a statement about both her individual caliber and the pipeline Dawn Staley has built into USA Basketball. If this summer is any indication, Edwards is ready to carry that production into a breakout year with the Gamecocks.
