ANTWERP (Belgium) – France could hardly have asked for a better way to close their FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 campaign. After a season without a stop victory, the French saved their biggest statement for the final event, winning the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026 behind a starring performance from Laetitia Guapo. Now, with the Women’s Series banner secured, France turn their attention to a very different challenge: the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 and another shot at continental glory.

Shanghai was significant not only because of the result, but because of the timing. France found their best form when the Women’s Series season reached its conclusion, with Guapo named Final MVP and once again showing why she is regarded as the engine behind the French offense. Her ability to dictate tempo, create opportunities and put pressure on defenses gives France a natural offensive focal point heading into Antwerp.

Now, the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup offers a clean slate. The opposition will be national teams rather than the club-based lineups of the Women’s Series, and France will have to reproduce that level of execution in a more compact tournament where every possession can carry greater weight.

They arrive with plenty of continental pedigree, of course. France have already won three FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup titles, and Antwerp presents an opportunity to make it four. That history brings experience of the pressure that comes with short, high-stakes national-team competitions, which is an important asset as the French look to turn their late-season form into another major triumph.

The road begins in Pool C alongside Czechia and Sweden. Czechia should provide a particularly intriguing early test. Note that France and Czechia already crossed paths at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026, when France narrowly prevailed 10-9 in the Play-In Round. Sweden complete a pool that leaves little room for a slow start, making France’s opening games every bit as important as the knockout rounds that follow.

Guapo will naturally be central to France’s ambitions. Arriving as the Shanghai Final MVP and one of the most in-form players in the field, she gives France a player capable of changing the rhythm of a game in an instant. Also arriving in Antwerp from Shanghai are Marie Mané and Marie-Eve Paget. Sixtine Macquet rounds out their roster in Antwerp.

There is plenty at stake beyond another medal. The FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup is Europe’s premier national-team 3×3 basketball competition, with the 2026 champions also qualifying for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2027 and FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup 2027.

So, can France carry the confidence and form that delivered Women’s Series glory in Shanghai into Antwerp and turn it into a fourth Europe Cup crown?

The answer starts in Pool C.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3×3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. 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.

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BAKU (Azerbaijan) – The Netherlands (NED) continued their remarkable run through the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 season, defeating Madrid (ESP) 13-8 in the Final to claim the WS Sea Breeze stop title and their fourth consecutive Women’s Series stop win. The Dutch’s unbeaten run further strengthened their position as the team to beat with the Project Redwings Shanghai Final fast approaching.

The Winner

The Netherlands entered WS Sea Breeze as the top seed and left with another diadem. They wasted little time showing why they were the team to beat, cruising past Warsaw (POL) 18-10 before dismantling Czechia (CZE) 21-3 in the Pool A phase. They then carried that momentum into the knockout rounds, defeating Egypt (EGY) 17-10 in the Quarter-Finals before taking down Austria (AUT) 15-10 in the Semi-Finals.

That set up a Final against Madrid, but the Netherlands once again proved too strong. With Ilse Kuijt leading the way, the Dutch controlled the game from start to finish and eventually pulled away for a 13-8 victory. The triumph marked their fifth Women’s Series title of 2026 and, even more impressively, their fourth in a row. The Netherlands rise to second overall in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 standings, and they appear firmly in control of the late-season race.

The Runner-up

Despite losing in the Final , Madrid still produced one of the tournament’s biggest stories. The fifth seeds opened with an 8-13 loss to Austria, leaving them needing to respond quickly in their second Pool D game. They did exactly that, defeating Paraguay (PAR) 17-7 to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Madrid then delivered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Facing host side Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Madrid battled through a tight Quarter-Final that went into overtime before Juana Camilion knocked down the game-winning two-pointer to seal a dramatic 14-12 victory.

They carried that momentum into the Semi-Finals, racing out to a 6-1 lead against Czechia and eventually pulling away for an 18-13 win. The run finally came to an end against the Netherlands, but Madrid’s second-place finish underlined their credentials as one of the most dangerous teams on the circuit. This was their best result since winning WS Vienna back in June.

The Final

The championship game was a low-scoring battle, but the Netherlands’ defense enabled them to control the scoreboard throughout. The Dutch opened with a 4-1 lead before extending the advantage to 7-2 midway through the game. Both teams struggled to find their shooting rhythm, but the Netherlands remained composed and continued to protect their lead.

Madrid stayed within striking distance at 9-5 with less than two minutes remaining, but the Dutch found another gear down the stretch. They extended their advantage to 12-5 with just over a minute left and never allowed Madrid back into the contest, eventually closing out the 13-8 victory. Kuijt led the Netherlands with six points in the Final.

Road to the Final

Austria continued their quietly impressive 2026 campaign by sweeping Pool D, edging Paraguay 20-19 before defeating Madrid 13-8, then taking down Arrasate Ointxe (ESP) 18-13 in the Quarter-Finals behind six points from Sigrid Koizar. They pushed the Netherlands in the Semi-Finals, recovering from a 10-2 deficit to cut it to 10-7 before the eventual champions pulled away for a 15-10 win.

Czechia, meanwhile, delivered one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks, rallying from 11-15 down to defeat Warsaw (POL) 16-15 in pool play after scoring the last five points of the game. Kateřina Galíčková then knocked down three two-pointers to lead Czechia past previously unbeaten Latvia (LAT) 16-10 in the Quarter-Finals, but their run ended in the Semi-Finals against Madrid.

Hosts Neftchi SOCAR also impressed by sweeping Pool B before suffering a dramatic 14-12 overtime Quarter-Final loss to Madrid. As good as they have been this year, Neftchi SOCAR just haven’t enjoyed much success on homecourt, finishing fifth in WS Baku, WS Sumgait and here at WS Sea Breeze.

The Reward

The Netherlands’ fifth Women’s Series title of the season adds another significant boost to their campaign as the race for the season-ending Project Redwings Shanghai Final enters the deep waters. More importantly, their fourth consecutive stop victory confirms their incredible consistency at the business end of the 2026 season.

Madrid’s runner-up finish also provides a valuable boost, while Austria and Czechia complete the top four spots after both reaching the Semi-Finals.

MVP

Ilse Kuijt was named the Women’s Series Sea Breeze 2026 MVP after another standout performance for the Netherlands. Kuijt finished the tournament ranked No. 1 in player value with 31.2, while also leading the field in total points with 25 and highlights with 18. She added 10 key assists and 7 two-pointers made, with both marks second-most in the tournament.

Final Standings

1. Netherlands (NED)
2. Madrid (ESP)
3. Austria (AUT)
4. Czechia (CZE)
5. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE)
6. Latvia (LAT)
7. Arrasate Ointxe (ESP)
8. Egypt (EGY)
9. Paraguay (PAR)
10. Warsaw (POL)
11. Yanjing (CHN)
12. Germany (GER)
13. Poland (POL)
14. Ukraine (UKR)
15. Azerbaijan (AZE)
16. Benin (BEN)

What’s Next

The FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 now heads to France for the WS Bordeaux stop on August 19-20.

With the Project Redwings Shanghai Final drawing closer and only four WS stops remaining before then, every stop carries added importance as teams continue to battle for valuable Race to the Final points. Only eight teams will make it to the Shanghai Final.

The Netherlands have set the standard with five WS stop titles overall. Now, the rest of the field will have another opportunity in Bordeaux to make their own mark.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official Women’s Series 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

BAKU (Azerbaijan) – The Netherlands (NED) will enter the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Sea Breeze 2026 as the top seed, but they will face a deep international field with Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Germany (GER), Austria (AUT) and Madrid (ESP) also offering strong odds in the hunt for the title. With 16 teams set to battle it out, the Sea Breeze Resort in Baku is ready for another high-level stop on the Women’s Series calendar.

The Netherlands have plenty of motivation heading into Sea Breeze. Noortje Driessen & Co. are on fire, having won three consecutive Women’s Series stops and four overall this season. The Dutch arrive as the clear team to beat and will look to extend their remarkable run as the circuit heads into another crucial stop.

Full Seedings List:

1. Netherlands (NED)
2. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE)
3. Germany (GER)
4. Austria (AUT)
5. Madrid (ESP)
6. Latvia (LAT)
7. Yanjing (CHN)
8. Czechia (CZE)
9. Warsaw (POL)
10. Ukraine (UKR)
11. Poland (POL)
12. Paraguay (PAR)
13. Egypt (EGY)
14. Azerbaijan (AZE)
15. Benin (BEN)
16. Arrasate Ointxe (ESP)

Pools

Qualifying Draw A: Ukraine (UKR), Egypt (EGY), Azerbaijan (AZE)
Qualifying Draw B: Poland (POL), Paraguay (PAR), Benin (BEN)

Main Draw

Pool A: Netherlands (NED), Czechia (CZE), Warsaw (POL)
Pool B: Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Yanjing (CHN), Arrasate Ointxe (ESP)
Pool C: Germany (GER), Latvia (LAT), QD A
Pool D: Austria (AUT), Madrid (ESP), QD B

Players to watch

Of course, Driessen will once again be at the heart of the Netherlands’ campaign. The Dutch star has helped drive the team’s dominant run throughout the 2026 season, with four Women’s Series titles already to the team’s name. After winning three stops in a row, Driessen will look to keep the momentum rolling and lead the top seed back to the top of the podium in Sea Breeze.

For their part, Neftchi SOCAR are seeded second and will be looking to make a deep run on home soil. Alexandra Mollenhauer remains one of the leading players in the Women’s Series rankings, even after recently being overtaken for the No. 1 spot by Hortense Limouzin of Rapid Bucharest. With Mollenhauer leading the way, Neftchi SOCAR will have plenty of firepower as they chase their third title of 2026 in front of their home fans.

Germany are the No. 3 seed and arrive with one of the circuit’s most explosive players in Marie Reichert. Germany have yet to win a Women’s Series stop in 2026, but Reichert has continued to rank among the top eight players on the circuit and remains a major threat around the basket. She will be central to Germany’s bid for a breakthrough in Baku.

Austria are seeded fourth after quietly putting together a solid resume this season. Sigrid Koizar has been leading from the front, helping Austria reach the Semi-Finals at two of their last three Women’s Series stops. The Austrians will now look to turn that consistency into their first title of the season and take another step forward.

Madrid are the No. 5 seed and already know what it takes to win on the Women’s Series this year. The Spanish side captured the WS Vienna title, with Cecilia Muhate playing a major role alongside Juana Camilion. Muhate will once again be a key figure as Madrid look to build on their campaign and chase a second stop win of the season.

Latvia, seeded sixth, will also have their sights set on a deep run. Digna Strautmane remains one of the team’s key players and will look to rediscover the form that helped Latvia reach the Final at WS Cáceres. After a difficult stretch in their most recent stops, Strautmane and Latvia will be eager to get back into contention.

Yanjing (CHN) are seeded seventh, while Czechia (CZE) take the eighth seed and Warsaw (POL) round out the seeded teams in Pool A alongside top seed Netherlands. Pool B features Neftchi SOCAR, Yanjing and Arrasate Ointxe (ESP), while Germany and Latvia will await the winner of Qualifying Draw A in Pool C. Austria and Madrid headline Pool D, with the winner of Qualifying Draw B completing the group.

The Qualifying Draw will feature six teams fighting for the final two places in the Main Draw. Ukraine (UKR), Egypt (EGY) and Azerbaijan (AZE) will meet in Qualifying Draw A, while Poland (POL), Paraguay (PAR) and Benin (BEN) will battle it out in Qualifying Draw B.

With the Netherlands riding a three-stop winning streak, Neftchi SOCAR looking to make the most of home surroundings, and a host of established contenders chasing their own breakthrough, WS Sea Breeze promises another competitive stop on the 2026 Women’s Series calendar.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official Women’s Series 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