South Carolina's Kelsi Andrews Claims Third Gold Medal at FIBA U18 AmeriCup

Incoming freshman Kelsi Andrews from South Carolina's women's basketball team is set to join her new team adorned with accolades. The talented player secured a gold medal representing the United States at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, where the team triumphed over Canada with a score of 90-72 on June 15 in Irapuato, Mexico. In the decisive match, Andrews contributed three points and two blocks.

This victory marks the third gold medal for the 6-foot-2 forward/center, following her previous wins at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship. Notably, this achievement adds to the United States' impressive record, as they clinched their 12th consecutive gold medal and 13th overall in the tournament's history.

Andrews, who became South Carolina's first signee for the 2026 class in November, was among 22 athletes vying for 12 spots on the roster. During the tournament, she averaged 12 minutes of playtime, scoring seven points per game, along with 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Her standout performance came in the semifinals against Venezuela, where she recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Although Coach Dawn Staley's new recruits arrived in Columbia on June 12, Andrews's participation in the tournament delayed her arrival. She is now the second Gamecocks player to earn a gold medal this month, joining Joyce Edwards, who was part of the USA Women’s 3X3 National Team that won gold at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup on June 7 by defeating Australia.

Andrews previously played for IMG Academy in Florida but began her high school career at Auburn High School in Alabama. Her journey has included overcoming significant injuries, including two ACL tears and a meniscus tear that required surgery in October, right before she committed to South Carolina. Despite these challenges, she managed to participate in her final game at IMG Academy.