3x3 women players who defined 2023

MIES (Switzerland) - There were plenty of 3x3 wonder women in 2023, but here are the stars who shone brightest. 

Laetitia Guapo 

It was always going to be difficult to follow up from her amazing 2022, where this Frenchwoman won a historic double of World Cup and Europe Cup titles. 

But Guapo is one of the best to ever do it and she submitted another incredible season, where she led France to silver at the World Cup after pouring in a staggering 45 points to be once again named in the Team of the Tournament.

She again balled out on the Women's Series, where her average of 6.8 ppg was third best out of her players with more than 20 games to lead France to a slew of titles. 

2024 will be even more memorable as Guapo hopes to inspire France to Olympic gold on home soil at the Paris Games. 

Hailey Van Lith 

The bandwagon is full for the 22-year-old phenom after she helped mighty USA win gold at the World Cup. 

HVL is a walking W and repeatedly pulls out her lefty lefty j in crunch time - to illustrate her mental toughness. After all, she was once mentored by Kobe.

Van Lith also showed her electric talents on the Women's Series and Nations League much to the delight of her growing legion of fans. 

Michelle Plouffe

The No.2 ranked player in the world continued to make the paint her personal playground and she proved unstoppable with a leading average of 7.1 ppg for those who played more than 20 games. 

She saved her best for last by winning MVP to lead Canada to the title at the showpiece Ulaanbaatar Final as Plouffe cemented her status as one of the very best in the business. 

The 31-year-old was singing 'Oh Canada!' all year long.  

Soraya Mohamed

The 28-year-old Soraya continues to well and truly live up to her nickname of the 'African Queen' as she again broke so many ankles with her outrageous moves on the half-court. 

Soraya helped Egypt win silver at the Africa Cup, but she was also unleashed around the globe as her insane skills were showcased to new audiences at the World Cup and the Women's Series. 

Africa's best kept secret was unlocked in a taste of things to come in 2024. 

Lili Wang

Lili Wang fittingly wears No.23 - a number reserved for greatness in sports - because she flat out dominated 2023. She was crowned with the prestigious honor of MVP at the Women’s Series having finished fourth in scoring (217 points) and player value (264.0).

China may have narrowly missed the podium at the World Cup, but Wang did all she could with a lights out shooting display where she finished with 46 points. 

She's an absolute flame thrower who continues to inspire her billion plus compatriots to dream big on the half-court. 

Brianna Fraser

No one scored more on the World Tour than this insanely talented 26-year-old, who tallied crazy numbers. She averaged 6.1 ppg on the World Tour and inspired Neftchi to great heights. 

They won four stops on the Women's Series to lift among the powers to confirm Fraser as not only a certified bucket getter but also legit superstardom.

Having inspired a fairy-tale rise in 2023, Fraser cements her standing as one of the very best players this season. 

Cierra Burdick

No one celebrated USA women's World Cup triumph more than Cierra Burdick, who is an OG of 3x3. She helped the hoops power win their first World Cup title since 2014 - a team she was also famously part of. 

Real ones will know that Burdick is the only woman to have won two World Cup titles. 

Few players have poured their energies into developing the 3x3 game like Cierra, whose legend was burnished further after being part of two USA title-winning teams on the Women's Series.

Kiki Flueren/Noortje Driessen

Dutch women's 3x3 is in safe hands with their young guns, who were on fire no matter what level they played. 

The towering 24-year-old Driessen took home the MVP after leading the Netherlands to a historic first-ever gold medal at the Europe Cup.

With her array of deadly inside moves, the 6ft (1.83m) star has established herself as one of the best players in the world having also won a title on the Women's Series. 

She formed a deadly one-two punch with speedy 23-year-old Flueren, who was also part of the Europe Cup triumph.

The 5ft.7 in (1.7m) dynamo was also electric in youth tournaments having been part of Netherlands' triumph at the U23 World Cup to further confirm that she's one of the most exciting young talents in the world. 

Sandra Ygueravide 

Legendary Sandra Ygueravide remains one of the best in the business and the heart and soul of European power Spain. 

The 5ft. 8in (1.72m) again did all she could every time she stepped on the half-court as she helped lead Spain to a silver medal at the Europe Cup and also a triumph on the Women's Series. 

Even after all these years grinding, Ygueravide has not lost a step as she inspires the next generation of her hoops loving country. 

FIBA