COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Penn State women's basketball redshirt junior guard Leilani Kapinus was selected to the 2023 USA 3x3 Nations League team as announced by USA Basketball on Monday.
"We're thrilled for Leilani to be recognized by Team USA through 3x3," Lady Lion Head Coach Carolyn Kieger said. "She has been working really hard over the past three years, and I am very excited for her to reap the benefits of her hard work. We've been playing 3x3 in the summer, so she understands the game. She is perfect for this opportunity because of her physicality, her versatility, her ability to defend all positions and score at all three levels. I think she is going to be a great asset for Team USA."
One of the most tenacious two-way players in women's college basketball, Kapinus makes her international basketball debut with Team USA at the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Americas Conference in Rancagua, Chile. Kapinus is fresh off a 2022-23 season that saw her land All-Big Ten Defensive Team recognition according to both the league's coaches and media members while simultaneously securing All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades per the conference's media.
"I feel so honored to be selected to represent my country in the 3x3 U23 Nations League," Kapinus expressed. "I am excited to go compete with and against some of the best of the best basketball players in the world. This is a great opportunity to learn and grow in every aspect of the game. It truly is a special feeling to wear the letters USA across my chest. This really is a dream come true for me."
A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Kapinus dons the red, white and blue following a 2022-23 campaign that saw her lead Penn State's roster in rebounding, steals and blocks while finishing third in scoring, assists and made free throws. Her 97 total steals ranked as the eighth most in the nation, while her steals per game average of 3.1 ranked ninth in Division I. She also ranked among the league leaders within the Big Ten in practically every statistical category, pacing the conference in both steals and steals per game.
Kapinus joins a talented group of six NCAA Division I student-athletes on the 2023 roster, highlighted by former Louisville All-American and newly minted LSU guard Hailey Van Lith. The squad also includes Azana Baines of Seton Hall, Dyaisha Fair of Syracuse, Madison Scott of Ole Miss and Sydney Taylor of Louisville. Kapinus, Baines, Fair and Taylor will each make their USA Basketball international debuts. Team USA is under the direction of head coach Christina Batastini, who previously served as an assistant on the USA U24 3x3 Women's Series team in addition to a prior stint as court coach at the 2023 3x3 Women's Senior Team trials in Colorado Springs.
The FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Americas Conference will feature six three-game tournaments in seven days, beginning on July 24 and concluding on July 30. The six team members can substitute as needed for each day's four-person entry. The winning team in each of 13 conference events hosted worldwide will qualify for the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Final running from Sept. 13-15 in Mongolia. The 2023 USA 3x3 U23 Nations Leagues teams will train in Miami Lakes, Florida, July 19-21, before traveling to Chile. The 2023 3x3 U23 Nations League will stream live on YouTube at www.youtube.com/fiba3x3.
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