Latvia ended UCLA senior forward Dailey Jr.’s shot at another gold medal on Saturday, outlasting Team USA 19-17 in the quarterfinals of the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup in Wuhan, China.
Dailey was one of four Americans on the roster, and the loss closed the book on a run that had started with plenty of promise. Team USA arrived in China as a proven group, having already collected gold in 2023 and silver in 2024 at this event under coach Tavaras Hardy. They had also punched their ticket by going 18-0 at the Nations League Americas North in Ñuñoa, Chile in July.
The Americans finished 2-2 in Pool D before reaching the quarterfinals. They opened with a 21-14 win over Argentina, then dropped a 21-14 game to Korea. They answered with a 21-17 victory over China, but Lithuania sent them to the knockout round with a 21-14 win.
The roster took a hit after the opener when Alex Fudge suffered a knee injury, and Team USA finished the tournament with only three healthy players while most of the field had four. In 3x3, that mattered.
The game is played on a 12-second shot clock with almost no stoppages, and having one extra body to rotate can be a major advantage. Both pool days also featured doubleheaders, with about two and a half hours between games.
Dailey shouldered the load from there, taking every rep in the final four games. Over five contests, he totaled 28 points and 21 rebounds. Since 3x3 games are played to 21 points, he put up 8 points in the opener against Argentina.
The tournament also capped a productive stretch for Dailey physically. He is down 10 pounds and now weighs 224. He spent two weeks in China locked in on diet, drinking tons of water and training, and he heads back to Westwood in time for fall camp lighter, sharper and with live international reps behind him.
In Other News...
UCLA Sends A Clear Warning As Purdue Week Exposes One Concern
UCLAs weekly press conference circuit offered a pretty good snapshot of where the Bruins stand heading into Purdue week: encouraged by what they saw from quarterback Nico Iamaleava against San Diego State, but still sorting through some sloppier moments in practice that the staff would rather not repeat. Chip Kellys assessment of Iamaleava helped reinforce the belief that the offense has a higher ceiling, while Dean Kennedys admission that earlier sessions were not up to standard served as a useful reminder that progress around this team is still being judged day by day.
On the other side of the ball, Colin Hitschler spent part of the week laying out the challenge of Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, a matchup that should test UCLAs discipline and communication. The late kickoff also adds another layer, because game-day routines will need to hold up when the usual rhythm is pushed back. For a Bruins team trying to build momentum, the concern is not whether the talent is there, but whether the details stay sharp enough when the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's First Real Test Could Hinge On These Emerging Bruins
UCLAs trip to Purdue arrives with enough early-season optimism to make the matchup feel like a checkpoint as much as a measuring stick. The Bruins have already shown enough to believe they can open 3-0, but this is the kind of game where the new faces and emerging contributors have to hold up under real pressure. Morgan has quickly become a top receiving option, while linebackers Woods and Omosigho have given the defense a steadier middle, and Landon Ellis is expected back after dealing with a head injury, adding another layer to the passing game.
Purdue brings its own challenge with running back Fame Ijeboi, whose production could put UCLAs run defense in a stressful spot. That is where the Bruins first real test may be decided, with the front seven needing to match Purdues physicality and the offense needing enough balance to keep pace. For UCLA, the question is not just whether the early momentum is real, but whether these rising players can help carry it through a game that should reveal a lot more about this team. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Faces One Big Doubt Entering Its Purdue Test
Before UCLAs third game of the season against Purdue, the conversation around the matchup has centered less on the opponents name than on whether the Bruins can justify a sizable spread. Two analysts split on the games direction, with one seeing UCLA as a team capable of controlling the day behind a disruptive defense, while the other expects Purdue to hang around and make the number more interesting than it looks on paper.
A key part of the intrigue is the return of receiver Landon Ellis, who could give UCLA an added target and help the offense settle in early. Even with that boost, the matchup is still being framed as one that asks a bigger question about the Bruins than their record: whether they can turn talent into a comfortable result, or whether Purdue can keep the pressure on long enough to make this a much tighter test. [Read more 🡒]