NAGOYA (Japan) – The race for FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 stops intensifies as the FIBA 3×3 Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger 2026 brings a loaded international field to LaLaport NAGOYA minato AQULS on October 10-11 in Aichi Prefecture, with three coveted tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama 2026 up for grabs. As the 27th Challenger of the season and the penultimate stop before Belo Horizonte, the Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger presents a crucial opportunity for contenders to strengthen their campaigns and secure a place on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour.

Contenders collide

Liman (SRB) headline the field as the second-ranked team in the 2026 season standings. With two World Tour titles and three Challenger victories already under their belt, the Serbian powerhouse arrive in Nagoya with a proven winning formula and the firepower to make another deep run.

Skyliners (GER), ranked eighth overall, are another major threat. The German side have already captured a Challenger stop win this season and will look to build on that success against a competitive field.

Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), currently ninth, and Shanghai (CHN), ranked 11th, are both eager to break through for their first stop victories of the campaign. Toronto (CAN), Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO) and Crvena Zvezda (SRB) also bring plenty of experience, while hosts Shibuya (JPN) will aim to capitalize on home-court support after claiming a Challenger title of their own earlier this season.

With three FIBA 3×3 World Tour places available, the stakes are high for every team looking to turn a strong Challenger performance into a ticket to Manama.

Star power across the court

The Go Too! Group Aichi Challenger will feature an impressive collection of established 3×3 basketball talents. Liman will rely on Stefan Milivojevic to lead their title charge, while Skyliners turn to Stefan Kojic, whose scoring ability makes him a key figure in their pursuit of another trophy.

Ignas Vaitkus will be one to watch for Raudondvaris Hoptrans, while Shanghai count on the experience of FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 MVP Karlis Lasmanis to help drive their campaign. Toronto’s Westher Molteni brings veteran know-how, and Roko Spaseski will be central to Cibona Ph.Classic’s hopes.

Marko Dordevic gives Crvena Zvezda another dangerous offensive option, while Shibuya will look to FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 champion Kristaps Gluditis to help the Japanese side make the most of their home advantage.

Full Seeding List

1. Liman (SRB)
2. Skyliners (GER)
3. Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU)
4. Shanghai (CHN)
5. Toronto (CAN)
6. Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO)
7. Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
8. Shibuya (JPN)
9. Shinjuku SS (JPN)
10. Singapore (SGP)
11. Beijing (CHN)
12. Seef (BRN)
13. Melbourne (AUS)
14. Kinshasa (COD)
15. Balige (INA)
16. Nagoya (JPN)

Pools

Qualifying Draw A: Beijing (CHN), Kinshasa (COD), Balige (INA)
Qualifying Draw B: Seef (BRN), Melbourne (AUS), Nagoya (JPN)

Main Draw

Pool A: Liman (SRB), Shibuya (JPN), Shinjuku SS (JPN)
Pool B: Skyliners (GER), Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Singapore (SGP)
Pool C: Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO), QD A
Pool D: Shanghai (CHN), Toronto (CAN), QD B

Road to Manama

With the Challenger season approaching its conclusion, Aichi represents one of the final opportunities for teams to book their World Tour places before the Pro Circuit heads to Belo Horizonte on November 7-8.

In a field featuring established champions, hungry challengers and proven international stars, every possession could prove decisive. Nagoya is set for a high-stakes weekend as teams battle for the title and three tickets to Manama.

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

TAKASAKI (Japan) – The FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series reaches its last stop before the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026, with a loaded 16-team field set to battle at the Takasaki Arena on August 29-30.

Canada (CAN) lead the way as the top seed, with Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), China (CHN) and Thailand (THA) completing a formidable top four. Australia (AUS), Mitsubishi Electric (JPN), Japan (JPN) and Netherlands U25 (NED) round out the automatically seeded Main Draw teams, setting up a weekend packed with star power and high stakes.

And with just one place in the Shanghai Final still up for grabs, the pressure could hardly be greater.

Mitsubishi Electric enter Takasaki knowing exactly what is required: a top-three finish will send them to Shanghai and complete the eight-team Final field. If they fall outside the top three, Germany (GER) will claim the last Shanghai Final berth instead.

Season-ending statement

Canada arrive as the top seeds and one of the biggest names in the field, with Paige Crozon once again leading the charge. The Canadians will not be able to defend their Women’s Series Final title in Shanghai after falling short of qualification, making Takasaki their final opportunity of the 2026 campaign to add another stop victory to their résumé.

Canada have already tasted success this season and will be hungry to finish on a high, but they will face a deep field from the very start. They are joined in Pool A by Netherlands U25 and Yanjing (CHN), with the latter bringing plenty of familiarity after appearing regularly on the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series circuit this season.

Elite firepower

Second seeds Neftchi SOCAR are another obvious contender, with Brianna Fraser among the players to watch in Takasaki. Fraser returned to the Women’s Series at the WS Sea Breeze after a lengthy break following the WS Shanghai stop in May. With Neftchi SOCAR already qualified for the Shanghai Final, the focus now shifts toward building the momentum needed for the season’s biggest stage. A win in Takasaki would provide exactly that.

Neftchi SOCAR face home sides Japan and Takasaki in Pool B, giving the Azerbaijani outfit a challenging but potentially rewarding path into the knockout rounds.

China’s familiar MVP

China are seeded third and will be looking to recapture the form that carried them to victory at WS Xiantao earlier this season. Li Wenxia was the driving force behind that triumph, earning tournament MVP honors after a dominant all-around performance. She has since been occupied with China’s FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League campaign, where she also helped the team claim a stop victory, but now returns to the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series stage with another chance to make an impact. China will open Pool C alongside Australia, with the third team coming from Qualifying Draw A.

Australia, meanwhile, arrive as the sixth seed and two-time FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series winners this season. Marena Whittle will be hoping to lead them to a third stop victory, which is a feat achieved by only one team so far in 2026 (Netherlands).

Mitsubishi Electric’s mission

No team here has more at stake than Mitsubishi Electric. The Japanese side came agonizingly close to winning WS Tokyo, where they finished runners-up to the Netherlands, and they again pushed deep last week in Bangkok, where they lost to Germany. Now, on home soil, they have one last chance to secure their place in Shanghai.

Fuyuko Takahashi will be central to that mission. One of Japan’s most dangerous offensive players, Takahashi has consistently shown an ability to shoulder the scoring load on the biggest stages. Mitsubishi face Thailand and the Qualifying Draw B winners in Pool D, meaning the local crowd could be treated to some fascinating battles before the knockout rounds even begin.

Momentum

Thailand are the fourth seeds and enter Takasaki fresh from an impressive run in Bangkok. Rattiyakorn Udomsuk was at the heart of that campaign, erupting for 16 points in Thailand’s Quarter-Finals victory over Australia. If she can carry that scoring touch into Takasaki, Thailand could be one of the most dangerous teams in the field. They will face Mitsubishi Electric and the winner of Qualifying Draw B in Pool D.

Intrigue

The Qualifying Draw promises plenty of intrigue as well. Mongolia (MGL), Japan U24 (JPN) and Singapore (SGP) contest Qualifying Draw A, while Poland (POL), New Zealand (NZL) and Vietnam (VIE) battle in Qualifying Draw B. The winners will join the Main Draw in Pools C and D respectively, ensuring that the path to the Quarter-Finals remains wide open.

Full Seedings List

1. Canada (CAN)
2. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE)
3. China (CHN)
4. Thailand (THA)
5. Mitsubishi Electric (JPN)
6. Australia (AUS)
7. Japan (JPN)
8. Netherlands U25 (NED)
9. Yanjing (CHN)
10. Mongolia (MGL)
11. Poland (POL)
12. New Zealand (NZL)
13. Japan U24 (JPN)
14. Singapore (SGP)
15. Takasaki (JPN)
16. Vietnam (VIE)

Pools

Qualifying Draw A: Mongolia (MGL), Japan U24 (JPN), Singapore (SGP)
Qualifying Draw B: Poland (POL), New Zealand (NZL), Vietnam (VIE)

Main Draw

Pool A: Canada (CAN), Netherlands U25 (NED), Yanjing (CHN)
Pool B: Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Japan (JPN), Takasaki (JPN)
Pool C: China (CHN), Australia (AUS), QD A
Pool D: Thailand (THA), Mitsubishi Electric (JPN), QD B

Wide-open battle

With Canada’s Crozon, Neftchi SOCAR’s Fraser, China’s Li, Thailand’s Udomsuk, Mitsubishi Electric’s Takahashi and Australia’s Whittle among the names to watch, Takasaki has no shortage of star power.

That said, with FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026 qualification hanging in the balance for a couple of teams and one last shot at Women’s Series glory for others, the biggest storyline may simply be this: there is absolutely no room for mistakes.

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