MARSEILLE (France) – Neftchi SOCAR (AZE) continued their outstanding 2026 campaign after defeating Canada (CAN) 15-9 to win the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Marseille on July 6.

It marked a second Women’s Series title of the season for the Azerbaijani side, who once again relied on their trademark defense and timely scoring to lift the trophy in southern France.

The Final

Neftchi SOCAR came out firing and immediately put Canada on the back foot, racing to a 6-2 lead as their opponents struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

With both teams finding points hard to come by, the Azerbaijani side maintained complete control and extended the advantage to 11-5 with less than three minutes remaining. Aoi Katsura then pushed the lead to 13-7 and left Canada with a mountain to climb.

The Canadians attempted a late rally, but Arica Carter put the exclamation point on another memorable performance by drilling the game-clinching two-pointer to seal a 15-9 victory and spark the celebrations.

Carter led the winners with five points, while Alexandra Mollenhauer added four. Katherine Plouffe and Cassandra Brown paced Canada with three points apiece.

Road to the Final

Neftchi SOCAR‘s path to the title was anything but easy. They needed overtime to edge Hungary (HUN) 19-18 in a thrilling pool opener before defeating Slovakia (SVK) 21-14 to secure top spot in Pool A.

The eventual champions then ended Uganda’s (UGA) magical run with an 18-15 Quarter-Finals victory before producing another defensive masterclass to beat host nation France (FRA) 14-10 in the Semi-Finals.

Canada were equally impressive on their journey to the title game. They dominated Pool B with convincing victories over Rome (ITA) and Italy (ITA), before overpowering compatriots Ottawa (CAN) 22-11 in the Quarter-Finals behind a 12-point explosion from Paige Crozon.

Their Semi-Final against France U25 (FRA) proved to be a sterner test, but the experience of Katherine Plouffe helped Canada hold off the spirited youngsters for an 18-16 victory and a place in the Final.

France and France U25 ultimately rounded out the podium after memorable home campaigns, while Uganda’s remarkable run from the Qualifying Draw to the Quarter-Finals was one of the standout stories of the tournament.

MVP

Arica Carter was named the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Marseille 2026 Most Valuable Player after producing another sensational all-around tournament.

The Neftchi SOCAR star led the event in player value (47.7), total points (31), highlights (25), double-fives (2), free throws made (7), key assists (13) and drives (12), while also finishing second in rebounds with 22.

Carter’s leadership and clutch shot-making were on full display throughout the tournament, including the title-clinching two-pointer in the Final, as she guided Neftchi SOCAR to their second Women’s Series triumph of 2026.

Final Standings

1. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE)
2. Canada (CAN)
3. France (FRA)
4. France U25 (FRA)
5. Hungary (HUN)
6. Uganda (UGA)
7. Italy (ITA)
8. Ottawa (CAN)
9. Slovakia (SVK)
10. Beijing (CHN)
11. Madrid (ESP)
12. Rome (ITA)
13. Portugal (POR)
14. Slovakia U23 (SVK)
15. Fuengirola (ESP)
16. Benin (BEN)

Next up is the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Caceres 2026 on July 9-10, with the world’s top teams set to resume their chase for valuable Race to the Final points.

FIBA

HANCHUAN (China) – Lausanne (SUI) produced a sensational Sunday performance to capture the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Hanchuan Challenger 2026, defeating Skyliners (GER) 22-14 in the Final at the picturesque Tianyu Lake Scenic Area.

After emerging from Pool A despite an opening-day loss to Lausanne, Skyliners looked poised for revenge in the Final. Instead, the Swiss side delivered another clinical display behind MVP Natan Jurkovitz and Jonathan Kazadi to finish an unforgettable weekend in style.

The Winner

Lausanne enjoyed an opening victory over Princeton to tip off the tournament’s most impressive run. After upsetting fourth-ranked Skyliners in pool play, the Swiss side carried that momentum into the Final.

Kazadi starred in a convincing 21-14 Quarter-Final victory over Valencia Basket (ESP) before Lausanne produced one of the performances of the tournament in the Semi-Finals. Kazadi poured in 10 points as Lausanne buried seven two-pointers to overwhelm home favorites Shanghai (CHN) 22-10, ending the contest with more than four minutes remaining.

The Final followed a similar script. Lausanne stormed to a quick start before extending the margin to 17-9 midway through the contest through crisp ball movement and efficient shooting. Skyliners never found an answer as Lausanne sealed their first Challenger stop win of the 2026 season.

Jurkovitz was deservedly named tournament MVP after stuffing the stat sheet throughout the weekend. He finished first in rebounds (30), offensive rebounds (16), dunks (6) and double-fives (2), while ranking among the tournament leaders in player value (42.2) and one-point field goals made.

The Runner-up

Skyliners once again demonstrated why they have been among the Pro Circuit’s most consistent teams this season.

Stefan Kojic made an immediate impact in his return from several weeks of rest, helping the German side defeat Princeton before finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with 36 points. After falling to Lausanne in pool play, Skyliners bounced back by eliminating Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) in the Quarter-Finals before Kojic erupted for 14 points to inspire a comeback victory over Taipei WanBao (TPE) in the Semi-Finals.

Although they were unable to avenge their earlier defeat against Lausanne, Skyliners left Hanchuan with another podium finish and a well-earned FIBA 3×3 World Tour qualification.

The Final

The title game quickly turned into a showcase for Lausanne’s relentless pace and execution.

The Swiss side raced to an early 9-3 lead and never allowed Skyliners to establish any rhythm offensively. Every German rally was answered by timely baskets as Lausanne consistently found quality looks inside and beyond the arc.

Thomas Jurkovitz contributed seven points in the Final, while Kazadi and the rest of the Swiss attack maintained constant pressure. Titouan Vannay fittingly delivered the Final blow with the decisive two-pointer as Lausanne wrapped up a commanding 22-14 victory.

The Reward

Lausanne, Skyliners and Taipei WanBao were rewarded for their impressive performances in Hanchuan by securing qualification to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour TBC 2026 stop, keeping their Pro Circuit momentum alive heading into the latter stages of the season.

Final Standings:

1. Lausanne (SUI) – qualified to WT TBC
2. Skyliners (GER) – qualified to WT TBC
3. Taipei WanBao (TPE) – qualified to WT TBC
4. Shanghai (CHN)
5. RaudondvarisHoptrans (LTU)

Top Scorers:

1. Stefan Kojic (Skyliners) – 36 pts
2. Cameron Forte (Shanghai) – 31 pts
3. Jonathan Kazadi (Lausanne) – 28 pts
4. Aurelijus Pukelis (Raudondvaris Hoptrans) – 27 pts
5. Petar Ivanovic (Taipei WanBao) – 27 pts

What’s Next

The inaugural FIBA 3×3 Hanchuan Challenger delivered another memorable chapter in the 2026 Pro Circuit. Lausanne claimed their first Challenger title of the year through a dominant Championship Sunday performance. Meanwhile, Skyliners continued their excellent campaign with another podium finish, and Taipei WanBao impressed with a breakthrough run to the Semi-Finals after upsetting Antwerp in pool play. The Challenger circuit now moves to Uenohara (Japan) and FISE Birmingham (USA) on August 8-9, where more World Tour tickets will be up for grabs.

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