Grit Today. Greatness Tomorrow

Cayman’s Young Women Show the Heart of Champions at the FIBA U23 3×3 Nations League

Success in sport is not always measured by wins and losses.

Sometimes, it is measured by the courage to keep competing when every challenge is stacked against you. It is measured by resilience, determination, and the refusal to give up.

That was the story of the Cayman Islands Women’s National Team at the 2026 FIBA Americas U23 3×3 Nations League in Santiago, Chile.

While the results may not have reflected the effort and sacrifice of this remarkable group of young women, their performance throughout one of the toughest tournaments in international basketball demonstrated exactly what the Cayman Islands Basketball Association is working to build—a program founded on character, perseverance, and long-term development.

A Grueling Week of International Basketball

The Nations League is unlike most basketball tournaments.

Over the course of seven days, teams competed in six separate tournaments, requiring athletes to play at a high level day after day with very little opportunity for recovery.

Every other nation arrived with the maximum roster of six players, allowing coaches to rotate athletes and manage fatigue throughout the week.

The Cayman Islands had no such luxury.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, our women’s team travelled with only four players—the minimum required to compete.

That meant every player took the court for every game, every day, throughout the entire competition.

No substitutions.

No days off.

No opportunity to rest tired legs.

Just four young women representing an entire nation with pride.

By the end of the week, simply completing all six stops was an incredible accomplishment in itself.

Competing Against Older, More Experienced Athletes

Adding to the challenge was the age difference.

Although this was an Under-23 competition, nearly every member of the Cayman Islands squad was 20 years old or younger.

Those two to three years may not sound significant, but in elite basketball they represent tremendous physical and competitive development.

Many of the teams Cayman faced featured athletes who had additional years of international experience, collegiate competition, and physical maturity.

Yet our young women never backed down.

Every game was another opportunity to learn, improve, and gain experience against some of the strongest programs in the Americas.

A Performance to Build Upon

One of the team’s most encouraging moments came against regional powerhouse Puerto Rico.

Despite facing one of the strongest teams in the tournament, Cayman battled until the final whistle, earning a hard-fought 16–9 result that showcased the team’s defensive intensity, competitiveness, and growing confidence.

It was a performance that demonstrated just how much potential exists within this young group.

While the scoreboard favored Puerto Rico, the game reinforced an important truth:

Cayman belongs on the international stage.

The Future Is Bright:

Perhaps the most exciting takeaway from this tournament isn’t what happened during that week.

It’s what these experiences will mean over the next several years.

Every possession.

Every defensive stop.

Every difficult matchup.

Every lesson learned against elite competition accelerates the development of our athletes.

With nearly the entire team eligible to return for future Under-23 competitions, the experience gained in Chile will serve as a foundation for continued growth.

As these young women mature physically, gain additional international experience, and continue developing their skills, there is every reason to believe the Cayman Islands will emerge as one of the Caribbean’s strongest 3×3 programs.

The future of Cayman women’s basketball has never been more promising.

More Than Results:

At CIBA, our mission is to positively impact lives through basketball.

That mission extends beyond medals and championships.

It is about building resilient young leaders who embrace challenges, represent their country with pride, and continue striving for excellence regardless of the obstacles they face.

Our Women’s National Team embodied those values throughout the week in Chile.

Their determination, sportsmanship, and unwavering commitment to one another reflected the very best of Cayman basketball.

While this tournament may not have produced the results we hoped for, it produced something equally valuable—experience, confidence, and belief.

Those are the building blocks of future success.

Thank You

The Cayman Islands Basketball Association extends its sincere appreciation to our athletes, coaches, team management, families, sponsors, and supporters who made this journey possible.

We are incredibly proud of this team.

Their story is one of perseverance.

Their future is one of tremendous promise.

And we have no doubt that the best days for Cayman Women’s 3×3 basketball are still ahead.

Cayman Defeats Grenada in Americup Pre-Qualifiers

Cayman bounced back with a strong win today, defeating Grenada 77–68 at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre‑Qualifiers in Georgetown, Guyana.

It was a much improved performance, with Cayman pulling down 42 rebounds — 14 of them offensive — and showing better ball movement with 11 assists. The team shot 51 percent from two‑point range and converted free throws at 62 percent, while Grenada struggled at the stripe, hitting just 38 percent.

Davion Cotterell led the way with a game‑high 21 points, powering Cayman’s offense inside. Xavier Miller added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Brad Lansdell chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Justin Collins contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals, and captain Shaad O’Garro filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Cayman’s rebounding dominance and defensive pressure proved decisive, turning stops into scoring opportunities and keeping Grenada at bay. The victory evens Cayman’s record at 1–1 in Group B. They’ll look to carry momentum into tomorrow’s matchup against St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 3:00 p.m. Cayman time.