Competing on a National Stage
Spider women’s basketball fans were leaping from their seats last spring as the team made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, reached the second round for the first time in program history, and finished 28-7 overall.
Shortly after this historic run, the Spiders received an opportunity not to be missed: an inaugural invitation to compete in the 2025 USA Basketball 3X Nationals.
The 3x3-style tournament is played by top men’s and women’s teams from colleges and universities across the country. This year, 16 women’s teams competed, including players from South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, and James Madison.
Head coach Aaron Roussell was thrilled by the invitation but was unsure if the team could afford the trip. “It was late in the school year and we didn’t have much left in our budget,” he said. “With approval from our administration, we reached out to our donor base to see if there was any interest. One supporter got very excited – she took the bull by the horns and made calls to a few friends, and very quickly we were able to get what we needed.”
These generous donors made the experience possible by covering costs for travel, meals, and lodging. Spider seniors Maggie Doogan, Rachel Ullstrom, Sam Dewey, and junior Ally Sweeney were selected to compete and traveled to Mesa, Ariz., in May.
The foursome had never played 3x3 basketball, a fast-paced version of the game played by two teams – each with three players and one substitute — on a half-court with one basket. The first team to 21 points, or the team leading at the end of regulation, wins.
Luckily, the Spiders’ regular-season training paid off – they made it to the quarterfinals and lost by only one point.
“The way we play is very conducive to 3x3 — most of what we do is three-player actions,” Roussell said. “We trained like we normally do before we left, and I think it led to our success. They really knocked it out of the park.”
The event also served as an evaluation for future USA Basketball 3x3 national team selections and opportunities to represent the U.S. at major sporting events. Ullstrom was selected to compete with Team USA in the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Nations League Americas Title in Chile, and Doogan was invited to the USA Basketball Women’s AmeriCup Trials in Colorado.
“The biggest benefit is getting this international exposure for our program,” Doogan said. “It shows that we can compete with top schools, and going up against them makes us better players individually. It’s been a cool experience — like nothing I’ve ever done before.”
That exposure extended to the sidelines as well. Roussell, who earned his second consecutive Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honor in 2025, was selected to be a court coach for the USA Basketball Women’s U19 National Team trials.
“It’s been a life-changing experience,” he said. “It’s amazing that it may not have happened if it weren’t for our donors stepping up. We are so grateful.”