MADRID (Spain) – Ub (SRB) continued their dominant 2026 campaign by winning the FIBA 3×3 Madrid Challenger stop on October 4, defeating Baskets Bonn (GER) 17-13 in the Final at Pabellon Amaya Valdemoro in Alcobendas. Led by tournament MVP Dejan Majstorovic, Ub secured their fifth Challenger stop win of the season, while Baskets Bonn and Barcelona (ESP) also booked their tickets to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama 2026.

The Winner

Ub once again showed why they remain one of the most formidable teams on the FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit, navigating a challenging field to lift another banner.

The Serbian powerhouse opened their campaign with a 21-16 win over Diadema (BRA), with Filip Kaluđerović’s nine points leading the way. They followed that up with another 21-16 victory against Liberec DEKSTONE (CZE) to sweep their pool and advance directly to the Quarter-Finals.

Ub maintained their momentum in the knockout stage, overcoming Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) 21-16 before producing a dominant 21-9 Semi-Final victory over Skyliners (GER). They exploded out of the gates with a 10-3 run and never looked back, sinking five two-pointers to reach the Final with more than three minutes remaining.

Against Baskets Bonn, Ub delivered another composed performance, with every player contributing at least four points in a balanced attack that proved decisive. The victory marked their fifth Challenger stop win of the season and added another milestone to what has been an outstanding campaign.

The Runner-up

Baskets Bonn once again demonstrated their championship credentials, reaching the Final after an impressive run through the knockout stage.

The German side defeated Liberec DEKSTONE 22-15 in the Quarter-Finals, with Denzel Agyeman leading the charge with nine points. They then overcame Barcelona 21-18 in a hard-fought Semi-Final, powered by Fabian Giessmann’s 10 points and seven rebounds.

Barcelona threatened to force a late turnaround, with Jaume Zanca’s two-pointer cutting the deficit to 19-18. However, Agyeman and Sidi Beikame scored the last two points to send Baskets Bonn into the titular game against Ub.

Despite falling short against the Serbians, Baskets Bonn secured their place at FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama 2026, adding another important result to a season that has already featured three World Tour victories and three Challenger stop wins.

The Final

The tournamet’s Final was a physical, defensive-minded battle, with neither side finding it easy to generate clean scoring opportunities.

Ub gradually gained control through their collective offensive effort, with all four players contributing at least four points. Majstorovic chipped in five points, while the Serbian side’s balanced scoring proved enough to keep Baskets Bonn at bay.

The 17-13 victory capped a composed performance from Ub, who delivered when it mattered most to secure the Madrid banner.

The Reward

Majstorovic was named MVP after an outstanding tournament. He finished with 35.6 total player value, 31 total points (2nd overall), 8 assists (2nd overall) and led the entire field with 10 two-pointers. His impressive scoring helped steer Ub to another Challenger triumph and underlined his value to one of the world’s elite pro 3×3 basketball units.

Ub and Baskets Bonn secured World Tour Manama qualification, while Barcelona claimed the third available ticket under the event’s qualification allocation rules, with only one German team eligible to qualify outright from Madrid.

Final Standings

1. Ub (SRB) – qualified for WT Manama
2. Baskets Bonn (GER) – qualified for WT Manama
3. Skyliners (GER)
4. Barcelona (ESP) – qualified for WT Manama
5. Liman (SRB)

Top Scorers

1. Fabian Giessmann (Baskets Bonn) – 39 pts
2. Dejan Majstorovic (Ub) – 31 pts
3. Filip Kaluđerović (Ub) – 30 pts
4. Jaume Zanca (Barcelona) – 29 pts
5. Denzel Agyeman (Baskets Bonn) – 27 pts

What’s Next

The FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit 2026 continues on October 10-11 with the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Bucharest 2026 and the Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger.

With another title secured and FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama beckoning, Ub will look to carry their winning momentum into the next stage of the season, while Baskets Bonn and Barcelona will also prepare for their next big test on the Pro Circuit.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

PHOENIX (United States) – Miami (USA) continued their remarkable run on the FIBA 3×3 Challenger circuit, capturing the FIBA 3×3 Phoenix Challenger 2026 after defeating Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) 22-16 in the Final on September 20. The victory marked Miami’s third Challenger stop win of the season, while Amsterdam and Princeton (USA) joined them in securing tickets to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026.

Miami make it three

Miami were in control from the opening day, sweeping Pool A after wins over Princeton and Phoenix (USA). They continued that momentum in the knockout stage, dispatching London (GBR) 21-12 in the Quarter-Finals before producing another commanding performance against Bordeaux (FRA), winning 21-13 in the Semi-Finals. James Parrott was perfect from the field in the Semi-Final, going 5-for-5 from the floor and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line as Miami raced to a 6-2 start and never looked back. The Americans then saved their biggest performance for the Final.

Amsterdam push Miami

Amsterdam RABOBANK started the Final brightly, taking a 5-4 lead before the teams remained locked at 9-9 midway through the contest. Miami then found another gear, opening a 17-11 advantage with under three minutes remaining. Amsterdam continued to battle, but Miami held their nerve to close out the 22-16 victory.

Riley Battin led all scorers with 11 points, while the returning Jimmer Fredette added eight points, five rebounds and four two-pointers in the Final. The victory gives Miami their third Challenger title of 2026, following previous triumphs at FISE Birmingham and the Sansar Challenger.

Fredette earns MVP honors

In his first FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit match since retiring in April 2025, Fredette was named the Phoenix Challenger MVP after an all-around tournament performance. The Miami star finished with 47.6 total player value, the highest mark of the event, alongside 27 total points, 22 highlights, one triple-five, 10 two-pointers, 15 key assists and two blocks. His 10 two-pointers were also the most in the tournament. Likewise, his 22 highlights and triple-five led the field.

Princeton punch ticket to Macau

Princeton produced one of the weekend’s biggest results by eliminating Antwerp (BEL) 21-15 in the Quarter-Finals. The Americans relied on a balanced attack and six two-pointers to overcome the sixth-ranked Antwerp side and reach the Semi-Finals, where they fell 22-14 to eventual champions Miami. Princeton nevertheless finished third overall and secured the Final World Tour Macau ticket alongside Miami and Amsterdam RABOBANK.

The Reward

Miami, Amsterdam RABOBANK and Princeton have all qualified for FIBA 3×3 World Tour Macau 2026, set for October 17-18, after finishing as the top three teams in Phoenix. The result gives Miami and Amsterdam another World Tour appearance in their strong 2026 campaigns, while Princeton finally secure their first ticket to the global circuit this season. WT Macau will mark Princeton’s World Tour debut in 2026.

Final Standings

1. Miami (USA) – qualified to WT Macau
2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) – qualified to WT Macau
3. Princeton (USA) – qualified to WT Macau
4. Bordeaux (FRA)
5. Antwerp (BEL)

Top Scorers

1. Riley Battin (Miami) – 38 pts
2. Maarten Bouwknecht (Amsterdam RABOBANK) – 34 pts
3. Bryan Alberts (Amsterdam RABOBANK) – 28 pts
4. Jimmer Fredette (Miami) – 27 pts
5. James Parrott (Miami) – 24 pts

What’s next

Attention now shifts back to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026, which is set for September 26-27 in one of China’s 3×3 basketball hotbeds. The Challenger circuit also returns on the same weekend, with the Mataro Challenger taking place on September 26-27 as the race for further World Tour tickets continues.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

Wuhan, China (September 19, 2026) – Canada’s 3×3 U23 women’s national team captured its first-ever FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup medal Saturday, earning silver after falling 15-10 to the United States in the final.

Mary-Anna Asare was named to the Women’s Team of the Tournament after leading the competition with 47 points. She also ranked second in the tournament in player value at 53.8.

The United States opened the final with a 5-2 lead before Canada responded behind a pair of baskets from Cyanne Coe. Canada took a 9-7 lead midway through the game, but the Americans answered with a late run to reclaim the advantage and secure the gold medal.

Canada entered the tournament for the first time after qualifying through the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League in July. The Canadians entered the World Cup as the No. 18 seed but quickly established themselves as a contender.

Canada opened pool play with a 19-15 win over Czechia, led by Asare’s seven points on 75% shooting. Hailey Franco-DeRyck added six points and four rebounds while shooting 100% from the field.

The Canadians followed with dominant wins over Poland and Chinese Taipei, defeating Poland 22-13 before cruising to a 21-9 victory over Chinese Taipei. Canada closed out pool play with a narrow 14-13 loss to defending champion Netherlands, finishing second in Pool B.

In the quarterfinals, Canada faced Australia in a tightly contested matchup. Australia took an 8-4 lead early, but Canada battled back and took the lead with less than three minutes remaining. With Australia in the penalty and Canada in the bonus, Myriam Koné converted a late opportunity to help seal a 19-16 victory and send Canada to the semifinals.

Canada then cruised past Latvia 21-8 in the semifinals, with Coe and Koné each scoring seven points. Coe and Asare also combined for 15 rebounds as Canada advanced to its first 3×3 U23 World Cup final.

The silver medal marks Canada’s first-ever medal at the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup.

After the final, Franco-DeRyck reflected on the team’s journey from first-time 3×3 players to World Cup finalists.

“This journey has been a whirlwind of emotions. Having never played 3×3 before the Nations League, I didn’t know what to expect.”, said Franco-DeRyck. “To think that some of the teams we faced have played together for years, while we just came together in China and made it to the final, shows our resilience and our willingness to buy into each other.”

As for Asare, the historic run was made even more meaningful by the connections she built along the way.

“I’m just grateful I was paired up with a group that means so much to me. My teammates were always picking me up, and we had such an amazing staff.”

“It’s always an honour to represent your country.”, Asare continued. “It was obviously not the result we wanted, but we fought as a team, picked each other up when we were down, and came up with a medal. It means so much to write history for Canada.”

Franco-DeRyck led the tournament with a staggering 50 rebounds. Koné finished seventh in scoring with 32 points and seventh in player value at 43.0. Coe rounded out the group, placing 10th in scoring with 30 points and 10th in player value at 41.0, while ranking third in rebounds with 33.

ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) – Miami (USA) are heading back to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour after claiming the FIBA 3×3 Sansar Challenger 2026 title, defeating Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) 18-14 in the Final to secure their second Challenger crown of the season. Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) also punched their tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026 after finishing second and third respectively in a high-quality weekend of 3×3 basketball in Mongolia.

The Winner

Miami backed up their status as one of the season’s leading Challenger teams with another composed run to the title.

The Americans swept their Pool B games on Day 1, defeating Zavkhan (MGL) 21-12 before taking down Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU) 21-13. Riley Battin led the way in the opening game with eight points, while James Parrott added seven in the second.

Miami then moved past Hangzhou Jingwei (CHN) 19-14 in the Quarter-Finals, with Battin again leading the charge. In the Semi-Finals, Henry Caruso scored nine as Miami ended Lausanne’s (SUI) impressive run with a 21-14 win.

The Runner-up

Amsterdam RABOBANK delivered another strong Challenger performance to finish second and earn their ticket to Deqing.

The Dutch side opened with a 22-13 victory over Bayangol (MGL) before falling to Lausanne 16-14 in overtime. They then produced one of the tournament’s biggest results by defeating No. 2 seed Liman (SRB) 22-13 in the Quarter-Finals.

Amsterdam edged Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy 21-19 in a thrilling Semi-Final, with Bryan Alberts hitting the decisive two-pointer after Delgernyam Davaasambuu had tied the game at 19-all inside the final 15 seconds.

The Final

Miami took control early against Amsterdam in the Final, racing to a 6-2 lead before extending their advantage to 14-8 midway through the contest.

Amsterdam struggled to establish the rhythm that had carried them through the knockout rounds, and Miami remained firmly in control at 17-12 with one minute remaining. The Americans closed out the 18-14 victory to claim the Sansar win, with Battin finishing as their leading scorer in the Final with eight points.

The victory gives Miami their second Challenger title of the 2026 season and another major boost heading into the World Tour.

The Reward

The biggest prize was not only the Sansar banner but three coveted tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026. Miami earned the top spot. They will be joined in China by Amsterdam RABOBANK and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy. The Mongolian side advanced to the Semi-Finals before falling narrowly to Amsterdam, then secured third place and the final Deqing ticket.

For Miami, it is another reward for a consistently strong 2026 campaign. For Amsterdam and Ulaanbaatar, the Sansar result delivers a place on the World Tour stage.

MVP

Miami’s James Parrott was named MVP after another influential all-around performance. Parrott finished with 42.8 total player value, while leading the tournament in highlights, key assists and dunks. He also ranked second in blocks and third in drives, underlining his impact across every facet of the game.

Final Standings:

1. Miami (USA) – qualified to WT Deqing
2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) – qualified to WT Deqing
3. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) – qualified to WT Deqing
4. Lausanne (SUI)
5. Liman (SRB)

Top Scorers:

1. Bryan Alberts (Amsterdam RABOBANK) – 38 pts
2. Riley Battin (Miami) – 35 pts
3. Titouan Vannay (Lausanne) – 31 pts
4. Henry Caruso (Miami) – 29 pts
5. Anand Ariunbold (Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy) – 25 pts

What’s Next

Attention now shifts away from the Challenger circuit, with the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026 taking place in Antwerp, Belgium this week before the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026 tips off in Wuhan, China next week.

The Challenger circuit returns on September 18-19 with the Hongcheon Challenger, followed by the Phoenix Challenger on September 19-20. The FIBA 3×3 World Tour then heads to Deqing, China on September 26-27, where Miami, Amsterdam RABOBANK and Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy will take their places among the world’s best.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

California women’s basketball senior guard Lulu Twidale competed for Australia in this month’s FIBA 3×3 Youth Nation’s League and helped her team qualify for a spot in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup and go undefeated over the course of the six-day tournament in the Asia West/Pacific region which took place in Singapore. The Australian national team, known as the Gangurrus, won all 18 games and even recorded the fastest victory of the tournament with its 21-0 win over Qatar in a record time of 4:44.
 
The competition was part of a larger group of regional tournaments that were scheduled across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific throughout the summer with each tournament’s winner qualifying for the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in Hubei, China which will take place Sep. 15-19. The Asia West/Pacific region consisted of host Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Turkmenistan across six stops.
 
Twidale averaged 6.1 points per game and led the team in scoring in eight of the contests including the first three of the tournament. She scored at least eight points in six matches.
 
Twidale is coming off her best season as a Golden Bear in which she set programs records for both single-season and career 3-pointers and finished the season fifth in the nation for triples (101). Last season she posted three 30-point games and had career season highs in scoring (16.2), points (566), assists (128), 3-pointers, rebounds (138) and free throws made (109). Twidale enters the 2026-27 season ranked second in the NCAA for career 3-pointers among active players.
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women’s basketball, follow the Bears on X (@CalWBBall), Instagram (@CalWBBball) and Facebook (/CalWBBall/).
 

ATHENS (Greece) – The first-ever FIBA 3×3 Athens Challenger 2026 belonged to Ub (SRB), who capped another dominant weekend on the Pro Circuit with an 18-15 victory over Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) in the Final at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium.

Powered once again by Strahinja Stojacic and a balanced supporting cast led by Nenad Nerandžić, the Serbian powerhouse claimed their third FIBA 3×3 Challenger title of the 2026 season. Ub, runners-up Amsterdam RABOBANK and third-placed Fuengirola (ESP) all secured qualification for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour TBC 2026 stop.

The Winner

Ub once again showed why they remain one of the benchmarks on the FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit. The Serbian giants stormed through pool play with convincing victories over Rio (BRA), 21-9, and Warsaw (POL), 21-14, with Stojacic leading from the front in both contests.

Their momentum continued in the knockout rounds. Stojacic poured in eight points as Ub defeated Kandava Turība (LTU) 19-13 in the Quarter-Finals before Nerandžić produced one of the performances of the tournament in the Semi-Finals. The sharpshooting big man erupted for 11 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including two perfect shots from beyond the arc, to power Ub past Fuengirola 21-13.

The Final proved to be another showcase of Ub’s championship composure. After building an early six-point advantage, they withstood a determined Amsterdam comeback before Marko Branković buried the decisive two-pointer with under 20 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Tournament MVP Stojacic once again demonstrated why he remains one of the game’s biggest stars. He led the tournament in player value (44.2), points (34), highlights (26), free throws made (9) and drives (13), while also ranking third in assists with 10.

The Runner-up

Amsterdam RABOBANK once again showed why they remain among the world’s elite teams. They navigated pool play with wins over Kandava Turība and London (GBR), before cruising past Rio 21-10 in the Quarter-Finals behind an all-around effort from Adriaan Van Tilborg.

The Dutch side then ended the Cinderella run of Akademija VDU (LTU) in emphatic fashion. Bryan Alberts caught fire with four two-pointers on his way to 11 points as Amsterdam rolled to a 21-11 Semi-Final victory.

Although they fell just short in the championship game, Amsterdam once again displayed their trademark depth and teamwork to secure another World Tour qualification.

The Final

This game lived up to expectations as two of the Pro Circuit’s premier teams traded blows from the opening possession.

Deadlocked at 5-5 early, Ub seized control with a decisive 7-1 run to open a 12-6 advantage midway through the contest. Amsterdam refused to go away, with Alberts knocking down a huge two-pointer to cut the deficit to 13-12.

Nerandžić responded with three straight points to restore breathing room at 16-13, but Amsterdam mounted one Final push to trim the margin to a single point late in regulation.

With the pressure mounting, Branković delivered the dagger, drilling a clutch two-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining to secure an 18-15 victory and another Challenger crown for Ub.

The Reward

By reaching the podium, Ub, Amsterdam RABOBANK and Fuengirola all secured qualification for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour TBC stop, continuing their chase for WT wins on the sport’s biggest professional stage.

Final Standings:

1. Ub (SRB) – qualified to WT TBC
2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) – qualified to WT TBC
3. Fuengirola (ESP) – qualified to WT TBC
4. Akademija VDU (LTU)
5. Miami (USA)

Top Scorers:

1. Strahinja Stojacic (Ub) – 34 pts
2. Nenad Nerandžić (Ub) – 34 pts
3. Bryan Alberts (Amsterdam RABOBANK) – 31 pts
4. Paulius Velutis (Akademija VDU) – 28 pts
5. Jose Blázquez (Fuengirola) – 27 pts

What’s Next

The inaugural FIBA 3×3 Athens Challenger delivered no shortage of memorable storylines. Ub captured the historic first title behind another MVP performance from Stojacic, while teammate Nenad Nerandžić matched him with a tournament-high 34 points to underline the Serbian side’s balanced attack. Akademija VDU emerged as the surprise package of the weekend, stunning fourth seeds Toulouse in pool play before eliminating Miami to reach the Semi-Finals. Meanwhile, Fuengirola also did well to secure a third-place finish and a coveted World Tour qualification, joining champions Ub and runners-up Amsterdam RABOBANK.

After another weekend filled with upsets, clutch moments and standout individual performances, the Challenger season now moves on to Uenohara (Japan) and FISE Birmingham (USA) on August 8-9 as teams continue their pursuit of FIBA 3×3 World Tour success.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA