Ukraine
59 vs 69
United States
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Ukraine | 19 | 19 | 8 | 13 | 59 |
| United States | 22 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 69 |
Tokyo, Japan – The United States captured the men’s basketball gold medal at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, defeating Ukraine 69–59. The matchup served as a rematch of the 2022 Deaflympics final, and this time the U.S. team maintained steady control through consistent execution on both ends of the court.
Michael Hays-Lizarraga led the United States with 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Noah Valencia added 11 points with perfect free-throw accuracy, while Preston Kelly contributed 10 points. Andy Cruz supported the offense with 8 points and 7 assists. The U.S. bench provided an additional 19 points, offering depth and energy throughout the contest.
Ukraine put forth a strong effort, with Vitalii Bykov scoring 17 points and Pavlo Bondarenko adding 12 points. Oleksandr Levanovych contributed 9 points off the bench. Despite their efforts, Ukraine faced challenges defensively in the second half and struggled to match the United States’ rebounding and scoring balance.
From the opening tip, the United States established its preferred pace, using ball movement to generate open looks and attacking the interior for efficient opportunities. Defensively, the team limited extended scoring runs by Ukraine, enabling the U.S. to maintain a steady advantage after halftime.
This gold medal represents the United States’ 15th men’s basketball title in Deaflympics history and its first since 2009. For Ukraine, the game reaffirmed their position among the top programs in international deaf basketball, with several players gaining significant experience in a high-stakes environment.
Both teams demonstrated strong teamwork and competitive spirit, concluding the tournament with a well-contested final that highlighted the continued development of men’s basketball within the Deaflympic movement.
