Rutgers women’s basketball is rolling through the 2026 FISU America Games in Lima, Peru, and the Scarlet Knights’ outside shooting has become one of the tournament’s early storylines.
After the first three days of group-stage play, the official FISU America Games social media account posted the tournament’s top five three-point shooters through Games 1-3. Two Rutgers freshmen made the cut: Chikae Desnudes and Mya Pauldo.
Desnudes is tied for the tournament lead with five made three-pointers, matching Argentina’s Lourdes Briones for first place. Pauldo sits third with four made threes, tied with Peru’s Valeria Fernandez. Argentina’s Breanna Custodio rounds out the top five with three.
That kind of production from two young guards speaks to how Rutgers has attacked the tournament so far. The Scarlet Knights have leaned on a balanced offense, one that can create off the dribble and stretch defenses from deep, opening up more room for other scoring options.
The recognition also points to the depth in Rutgers’ backcourt. Instead of depending on one primary scorer, the Scarlet Knights have had multiple perimeter threats doing damage, which makes life tougher for opposing defenses.
Rutgers has opened the event with three wins under first-year head coach Gary Redus II, and the team’s up-tempo style has helped generate a heavy volume of shots from beyond the arc.
Desnudes, a 2026 top prospect, already showed on the recruiting trail that she could get her shot off from distance. Pauldo, meanwhile, continues to grow as a scorer from deep as Rutgers keeps its strong start going in Lima.
The Scarlet Knights return for their final group-stage game looking to keep the unbeaten run alive and carry that momentum into the knockout rounds.
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