SHANGHAI (China) – Rapid Bucharest (ROU) went perfect in Pool B, while France (FRA), Netherlands (NED) and Neftchi SOCAR (NEF) all finished 2-1 in a dramatic three-way tie atop Pool A on Day 1 of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026.

Rapid swept Pool B to earn a direct place in Sunday’s Semi-Finals, while France claimed first place in Pool A on total points ahead of Netherlands and Neftchi. Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL) and Netherlands will face Quarter-Final tests on Sunday, with Beijing (CHN) also advancing from Pool B.

Rapid Bucharest sweep Pool B

Rapid Bucharest were the standout team in Pool B, overcoming China, Ulaanbaatar Amazons and Beijing to finish the day with a perfect 3-0 record.

Their opening game was a thriller. China appeared to have control for much of the contest, leading 15-11 with two minutes remaining. But Rapid mounted a stunning late comeback, taking a 16-15 lead inside the final minute before holding on for a 17-16 victory. Hortense Limouzin led the way with 8 points as Rapid survived the dramatic finish.

The Romanian side then turned up the pressure against Ulaanbaatar, racing into a 12-5 lead before pulling away for a commanding 21-7 win. Martyna Petrenaite led Rapid with 8 points.

Their final pool game against Beijing was another battle. Beijing were reduced to three players after Wang Xuemeng suffered an injury in their previous game, but continued to fight against the unbeaten Rapid. Beijing stayed within striking distance throughout before Rapid finally pulled away late for a 20-18 victory. Marta Miščenko led Rapid with 9 points.

The perfect record sends Rapid directly into the Semi-Finals, where they will face the winner of Netherlands-Beijing.

France arise from three-way tie in Pool A

Pool A produced one of the most dramatic storylines of the day, with France, Netherlands and Neftchi SOCAR all finishing 2-1. France ultimately emerged on top of the standings on total points, earning a direct Semi-Final berth despite opening the day with a 17-15 defeat to Neftchi.

France bounced back emphatically against Germany, building a commanding 14-8 lead before securing a 21-13 victory. Marie Milapie led the way with 8 points.

That set up a decisive clash with Netherlands. The two teams traded blows throughout a tense contest, with neither able to establish a significant advantage. Netherlands moved ahead 15-14 after an Ilse Kuijt two-pointer, but France responded when Marie Mané hit from beyond the arc to put her team ahead 19-17. Marie-Eve Paget then delivered the decisive blow, knocking down a two-pointer to complete a 21-17 victory.

The result gave France the win they needed to finish 2-1 and take first place in the three-way tie, sending them directly into the Semi-Finals. In the process, the French also ended the Dutch’s win streak at 27 games.

Knockout stage set for Sunday

With the pool stage complete, the Shanghai Final moves into its knockout phase on Sunday.

Quarter-Final 1: Ulaanbaatar Amazons vs. Neftchi SOCAR
Quarter-Final 2: Netherlands vs. Beijing

The winners will advance to face France and Rapid Bucharest respectively in the Semi-Finals.

Semi-Final 1: France vs. QF 1 Winner
Semi-Final 2: Rapid Bucharest vs. QF 2 Winner

The two Semi-Finals winners will battle for the championship.

After a dramatic opening day featuring a perfect run, a three-way tie and several hard-fought finishes, the battle for the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 crown is now down to six teams in Shanghai.

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

China’s Yang Hengyu (L) vies with France’s Marie Mane during the Pool D match between China and France at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Li Yuyan (R) vies with Belgium’s Sarah Dossou during the Pool D match between China and Belgium at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Li Yuyan (R) vies with France’s Marie Milapie during the Pool D match between China and France at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Beijing’s Zhang Zhiting (L) vies with Latvia’s Digna Strautmane during the Pool A match between Latvia and team Beijing of China at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Ding Yike (R) vies with France’s Marie Mane during the Pool D match between China and France at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Yang Hengyu (C) prepares to shoot during the Pool D match between China and Belgium at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Li Yuyan (R) vies with France’s Marie Milapie during the Pool D match between China and France at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

China’s Ding Yike (R) vies with Belgium’s Sarah Dossou during the Pool D match between China and Belgium at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

People watch the Pool D match between China and Belgium at the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series CS Rapid Stop 2026 at Parklake mall in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 8, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

BUCHAREST (Romania) – Home favorites Rapid Bucharest (ROU) headline a stacked 16-team field as the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 returns to the Romanian capital for the CS Rapid stop on August 8-9.

One of the crucial opportunities to accumulate ranking points and build momentum as the season finale approaches, the FIBA 3×3 WS CS Rapid stop brings together many of the circuit’s most consistent contenders. Rapid Bucharest will look to reward the home fans with a title after previous disappointment on home soil at FIBA 3×3 WS Bucharest last month, while the Netherlands (NED) arrive chasing a third consecutive Women’s Series stop win.

Germany (GER) and France (FRA) remain among the strongest teams still searching for their first Women’s Series stop wins of 2026, while China (CHN) enter with confidence after already booking a WS stop win in Xiantao. Lithuania (LTU), Austria (AUT), Latvia (LAT) and Beijing (CHN) are also among the marquee teams in a highly competitive main draw that promises another weekend of elite 3×3 basketball action.

Six more teams will battle through qualifying for the last two main draw spots.

Full Seedings List:

1. Rapid Bucharest (ROU)
2. Netherlands (NED)
3. Germany (GER)
4. France (FRA)
5. China (CHN)
6. Lithuania (LTU)
7. Austria (AUT)
8. Latvia (LAT)
9. Beijing (CHN)
10. Yanjing (CHN)
11. Poland (POL)
12. Romania (ROU)
13. Ireland (IRL)
14. Rīga (LAT)
15. Bucharest (ROU)
16. Belgium (BEL)

Pools

Qualifying Draw A: Yanjing (CHN), Ireland (IRL), Rīga (LAT)
Qualifying Draw B: Poland (POL), Romania (ROU), Belgium (BEL)

Main Draw

Pool A: Rapid Bucharest (ROU), Latvia (LAT), Beijing (CHN)
Pool B: Netherlands (NED), Austria (AUT), Bucharest (ROU)
Pool C: Germany (GER), Lithuania (LTU), QD A
Pool D: France (FRA), China (CHN), QD B

Players to watch

Fresh off being named MVP at WS Tokyo, Ilse Kuijt (Netherlands) has been instrumental in the Dutch team’s recent dominance. The Netherlands have just won back-to-back Women’s Series stops in WS Batam and WS Tokyo, and Kuijt will look to help them complete a hat-trick of titles in Bucharest while securing a fourth WS stop win of the season.

Hortense Limouzin (Rapid Bucharest) has been equally influential, leading the hosts to Women’s Series triumphs in WS Baku and WS Cáceres. Backed by passionate home support, Limouzin will be determined to guide Rapid Bucharest to the title after the team narrowly missed out when the Women’s Series previously visited the Romanian capital.

Germany continue to rely on the inside presence of Ama Degbeon, whose physicality and consistency have helped keep her side among the Women’s Series contenders. She will once again be central to Germany’s pursuit of a long-awaited breakthrough WS stop win.

For France, Marie-Eve Paget remains the heartbeat of the team. The experienced playmaker has led France to multiple deep tournament runs this season, including runner-up finishes in WS Orléans and WS Jinan, and will look to finally turn those near misses into tournament success.

China’s hopes once again rest heavily on Yang Hengyu, whose dominant presence around the basket powered her team to the WS Xiantao title. When Yang finds her rhythm, few players on the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series are more difficult to contain.

Meanwhile, Kamile Nacickaite-van der Horst (Lithuania) continues to light up the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series with her shot-making and all-around scoring ability. Lithuania have consistently challenged the elite throughout the season, and another standout performance from their veteran star could finally deliver a breakthrough WS stop victory.

With the season entering such a decisive stretch, another thrilling chapter of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2026 awaits in Bucharest, where every victory could prove crucial in the race toward the season finale.

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