Lady Vols Invited To Participate In 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado -- USA Basketball announced Wednesday the 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals will be held May 13-15 in Springfield, Mass. The Lady Vols have been invited to participate and will have a squad competing that weekend in the women's division at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The event will feature up to 16 men's and 16 women's teams, including some of the best 3x3 players in the country, vying for national titles. Tennessee will be represented by graduate guard Jordan Walker, rising senior center Tamari Key and rising sophomores in guard/forward Sara Puckett and guard Kaiya Wynn. UT assistant Samantha Williams will accompany the quartet and serve as coach.

"USA Basketball looks forward to returning to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals," said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. "Our continued partnership with Red Bull and the Hall of Fame builds awareness of 3x3 basketball."

Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.

Participating teams earned their spots in the 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals either through Red Bull USA Basketball 3X regional qualifying tournaments last fall or via an at-large invitation from USA Basketball. Among teams expected to compete are reigning champions Force 10 in the women's division and 3BALL Omaha in the men's division.

Several NCAA women's programs expect to be represented, including Iowa State, Kansas State, North Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas and Villanova, after USA Basketball extended invitations to teams that reached the Sweet 16 at the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Walker, Key, Puckett and Wynn contributed to Tennessee returning to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015-16. Their efforts enabled the Lady Vols to open the 2021-22 campaign 18-1 and rise as high as No. 4 nationally. UT finished the year 25-9 overall and 11-5 in SEC play, good for third place in the league despite injuries to several key players during the course of the season.

Key, one of only three Lady Vols to start all 34 games, was an All-SEC Second Team performer and member of the SEC All-Defensive Team. Puckett, one of UT's top contributors off the bench, earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Walker joined Key in starting all 34 contests and was the team's No. 4 scorer and leader in assists, while Wynn overcame an early season injury to appear in 30 games and earn increased playing time at the end of the year.

The 3X Nationals will tip off May 13 with preliminary round games. Teams will be seeded based on preliminary records before entering bracket play. Games will be played on the Hall of Fame's Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams, located in the heart of the Museum. The event is open to the public with purchase of admission to the Hall of Fame. Broadcast information, team rosters and the full schedule will be announced at a later date.

"We are excited to welcome back USA Basketball to the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame," said John Doleva, Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame president and CEO. "The 3x3 competition on Center Court produces excitement in our unique space. We'd like to welcome all the participating teams and their friends and family to Springfield and we hope that everyone gets a chance to tour the newly renovated Basketball Hall of Fame."

The event will serve as the final evaluation of athletes for selection to various 2022 USA Basketball 3x3 men's and women's national teams, including the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, set for June 21-26 in Antwerp, Belgium.

After 3X Nationals, the new season of Red Bull 3X will kick off this summer in partnership with USA Basketball. Approximately 10 men's and women's qualifier tournaments around the country, plus four regional championship events, will help identify a new pipeline of 3x3 talent who have a goal of competing in the 2023 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Lady Vols Invited To Participate In 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals

Players Mentioned

Tamari Key

Sara Puckett

Jordan Walker

Kaiya Wynn

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