Kelsey Plum goes up for a shot during the gold medal game in women's 3x3 basketball between the U.S. and Russia. Photo: Ina Fried/Russia
TOKYO- The U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team defeated the squad from Russia 18-15 on Wednesday night to win the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport.
What's next: Minutes later, the Latvian men defeated the athletes from Russia 21-18 to take the men's gold medal.
How it works: The fast-paced sport is similar to the style of half-court hoops played at parks across the U.S. and beyond. In Tokyo, it's being played at an outdoor stadium, though the players get some shade from the heat thanks to a circus-style tent. The game ends after one team scores 21 points or after 10 minutes, whichever comes first.
- The U.S. team was made up of Kelsey Plum, Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray and Jackie Young. Young was a last-minute replacement for Katie Lou Samuelson who tested positive for COVID-19 just before leaving for Tokyo.
- The team from Russia, meanwhile, includes a pair of twins, Olga and Evgenia Frolkina and Wednesday is their birthday.
Earlier this evening, China's women's team defeated France 16-14 to secure the bronze medal, while Serbia beat Belgium 21-10 to earn the men's bronze.
Go deeper: Full Axios coverage - Medal tracker