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Kelsi Andrews helps lifts USA basketball to gold medal game in FIBA U18 Americup

The Gamecock incoming freshman had her best game of the tournament.
ByMorgan Moriarty|
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Mar 28, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley looks on from the sideline during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley looks on from the sideline during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

USA Basketball will be playing for a gold medal in the FIBA U18 Americup on Monday evening. And the efforts of South Carolina incoming freshman Kelsi Andrews is a big reason why. 

Andrews, who will be a true freshman in Columbia during the upcoming 2026-27 season, has been playing on the FIBA U18 team for the Americup tournament taking place in Irapuato, Mexico. 

On Sunday night, Team USA defeated Venezuela 104-51 in the semifinal game. Andrews finished with one of her best games of the tournament, scoring 13 points and adding 10 rebounds and two assists. The United States' offense was led by GG Banks and Kaleena Smith, who combined for 18 points each in the victory. 

With the victory over Venezuela, that means the United States will play for a gold medal on Monday evening. The U.S. will be taking on Canada for the gold medal. 

Playing for a gold medal is actually a position that Andrews is quite familiar with. She has won gold medals while playing for Team USA at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. If Andrews can win gold, she will join her Gamecock teammate Joyce Edwards, who helped Team USA win gold in the FIBA 3x3 tournament earlier this month. 

Monday night's game is expected to tip off around 10 p.m. ET. All games can be seen on on the FIBA YouTube channel.

Andrews missed the entirety of her senior high school senior season last year due to a knee injury, so her playing so well is certainly encouraging for South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. She had been invited to participate in the trials for the tournament late last month, and ultimately made the USA basketball's final roster.  

Across her four games in the tournament, Andrews has scored 28 points, with another 19 rebounds and 11 assists. She is also shooting an impressive 54.2% from the field, and averaging 12.9 minutes per contest. 

Best of luck to Andrews and USA Basketball against the Canadians!

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