COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo - In the midst of their postseason run in the WNIT the Washington State women's basketball team received some other huge news, this time from USA Basketball, as the Cougars were picked to send a team to the 2017 USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament this April. The Cougs will send a team of four consisting of Caila Hailey, Nike McClure, Alexys Swedlund, and Kayla Washington to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to compete against some of the best teams in the nation from April 8-9. 

Playing in the two day tournament, the Cougs will compete in the 10-team tournament that features both teams of collected talent and other Pac-12 squads. USA Basketball invited the Pac-12 to participate in the tournament as part of a pilot program to help increase the number of women competing in 3x3, Not only is a USA Basketball national 3x3 title on the line for all four winning teams of the four divisions, there is an extra incentive at stake for participants of the USA 3x3 Men's National Tournament and USA 3x3 U18 Women's National Tournament. In addition to Washington State, the Pac-12 will send teams from Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, and Washington.

Under FIBA's 3x3 rules, each game consists of one 10-minute period. The team leading after completion of regular playing time, or the first team to score 21 points is declared the winner. If the game ends in a tie, the first team to score two points in overtime earns the victory. Shots made outside the arc are awarded two points, shots made inside the arc are awarded one point and each made free throw is worth one point. Additionally, a 12-second shot clock is utilized.

This year will mark the sixth annual USA 3x3 National Tournament, which was first held in 2012. Last year's champions in the men's tournament, 3Ball Premier, made history at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup after capturing the silver medal – marking the USA's first medal of any kind at the men's tournament – while the women's team, Defend, claimed the bronze medal.