WNBA Chicago Sky

Stefanie Dolson Secures Spot at 2021 Tokyo Olympics for Team USA

Published on June 23, 2021 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


CHICAGO - Chicago Sky center Stefanie Dolson is among four athletes who qualified USA Basketball for the inaugural 3×3 Olympic competition this summer to represent the USA at the Tokyo Games. Dolson (Chicago Sky/Connecticut/Port Jervis, N.Y.), will be joined by WNBA's Allisha Gray (Dallas Wings/South Carolina/Sandersville, Ga.), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces/Washington/Poway, Calif.) and Katie Lou Samuelson (Seattle Storm/Connecticut/Huntington Beach, Calif.).

"I'm elated and honored to be a part of history," Dolson said. "This will be the first time 3x3 will be in the Olympics and my first time ever going to the Olympics, so to say I'm happy would be an understatement! This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and now it's actually going to happen. I can't wait to make my family is proud - they are so excited for me as well - so overall I just couldn't be happier."

All four athletes are first-time Olympians that have extensive USA Basketball and career accolades. Dolson, Gray and Plum played in their first international 3×3 event in 2021. Along with Samuelson, the team captured a tournament title at the Big Twelve International Tournament in Voiron, France, ahead of the 2021 FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

At the FIBA 3×3 OQT in Graz, Austria, the USA finished 6-0, and while its semifinal win punched the USA's ticket to Tokyo, the team also finished in first place according to FIBA's rankings that are based on points scored. As a team, the USA averaged 21.2 points per game. Plum was named to the all-tournament team after she averaged 5.3 ppg., 1.8 rpg. and 2.0 "key assists" per game. Gray led the USA in scoring with 6.5 ppg. and 5.0 rpg., Dolson averaged 5.7 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. and Samuelson contributed 3.7 ppg. and 3.7 rpg.

Chicago's starting center, Dolson is 43-3 all-time with USA Basketball teams, including five-on-five and 3×3. She first played with the USA National Team in 2013 as a college student and since has been on six five-on-five national team rosters between the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup and exhibition games. She won gold medals with USA Basketball junior national teams at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the 2011 FIBA U19 World Cup, and her career highlights include winning 2013 and 2014 NCAA National Championships at the University of Connecticut.

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