SAN SALVADOR (El Salvador) – Brazil have made a habit of finishing on the proverbial FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup podium. Now, both the men’s and women’s teams are looking to turn that consistency into a championship breakthrough.

The men’s team have collected two silver medals and three bronze medals in FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup history, while the women have claimed three silvers and two bronzes. Neither side has ever finished outside the top three, an impressive record that underlines Brazil’s status as one of the continent’s most consistent 3×3 basketball nations.

But maintaining that standard is one thing. Taking the next step is another.

The men’s squad return with three players from their 2025 lineup: Leo Branquinho, Leandro Da Silva and William Weihermann. Branquinho is particularly important, having played in every edition of the AmeriCup to date. His experience, alongside that of his returning teammates, will be crucial as Brazil look to build on last year’s bronze-medal finish.

The women’s team will also bring back familiar faces, with Gabriela Guimarães and Luana de Souza returning from the 2025 squad. Guimarães has been a consistent presence on the AmeriCup podium, earning bronze in each of her previous two appearances, and she will be expected to help guide the team through another demanding campaign.

The women, however, must first navigate the Qualifying Draw before they can pursue another deep run in the Main Draw. That makes Brazil’s collective experience particularly valuable: the returning players know the demands of the competition, and their leadership could prove decisive when the pressure rises.

Brazil have already established a remarkable record of consistency at the AmeriCup. In San Salvador, the challenge is to finally turn those podium finishes into gold.

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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WUHAN (China) – France have taken care of business in Women’s Pool A, completing a perfect 4-0 campaign to book their place in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2026. At the center of their unbeaten run has been Eléna Zemoura, who has embraced the intensity of the U23 World Cup while keeping her focus firmly on the next game.

France opened their campaign with a dominant 21-4 victory over the Philippines before overcoming hosts China 21-16. They returned to action on Day 3 with wins over Italy and Egypt, beating Italy 21-9 before closing out the pool phase with a 16-10 victory over Egypt.

Zemoura contributed 14 points across France’s first two games and added another 13 points on Day 3. Against Italy, she scored seven points before producing six points, five rebounds and six highlights against Egypt. She currently leads the Women’s Tournament in total player value with 42.9.

For Zemoura, though, France’s success has been built on much more than individual performances.

“I think my team creates a lot of movement and puts big intensity, so we try to give our best every time,” she said. “We have a lot of fun, and we try to give everything every time, so that’s our identity.”

That identity was on full display against Italy, where France overcame difficult conditions after rain affected their warm-up before establishing themselves defensively.

“The warm-up was very special because of the rain,” Zemoura said. “But we started very good with a lot of intensity in defense, so I think that gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the game.”

Zemoura describes herself as a “warrior” on the court, emphasizing the versatility she can bring to France.

“I give my life on the court,” she said. “I can shoot, I can drive, and I can post because I’m tall. So yeah, I try to do my best and always put a big defense because it’s our identity.”

France’s perfect pool phase also marks an important step for a team that reached the Final last year before falling to the Netherlands. Zemoura isn’t looking too far ahead, however.

“This year we just take game by game, step by step,” she said. “We did three steps, and we have the fourth one just after. So we don’t think about the future. We do step by step, and that’s it.”

The next step is now set. France will face Latvia in the Quarter-Finals on Day 5, and Zemoura will look to continue making a major impact on the floor.

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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