Canada poised to capture victory at the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Edmonton Stop 2023

EDMONTON (Canada) - Full-strength Canada will look to win at home as the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series makes its way to Edmonton on July 29 - 30.

Here's what to expect in the thirteenth edition of the competition. 

The Contenders

O Canada!

Hard to look past the home team in this event, not only because of the home support being strongly on their side, but also the fact that one of the strongest teams in the competition will be full-strength with the return of the Plouffe sisters. Boasting 4 of the world’s best 3x3 players in one side, the Canadians will be looking to take their stop win total to two, last winning in Poitiers.

The reigning Women’s Series champions have it all, from skill on the court to continuity with the core remaining strong through the last couple years. The team is finally getting back into the groove of things and what better place to win than surrounded by the home crowd spurring them on. 

Their work will be cut out for them though, as the teams they have to get through would be stacked.

The dominant queens of the Women’s Series this season has been China, and they will be led by star Lili Wang yet again in Edmonton. ZhiTing Zhang, Ji Yuan Wan and Mingling Chen will be looking to bounce back after the loss in Bordeaux to France. Their success speaks for itself, having won three of the stops while also having remained consistent throughout. 

The list of winners goes on as France will take to the court, though without stars Laetitia Guapo and Lortense Limouzin. They will be just as lethal however, with Marie Eve Paget and Marie Mane leading the offensive charge. Myriam Djekoundade and Marie Milapie can take over on both ends of the court, making Les Bleus a perennial threat. 

The FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023 winners will be taking to the court as well in the USA. Led by Cierra Burdick yet again, the side that won Pristina Stop of the Women’s Series will be looking to add the Edmonton stop against stop to their repertoire. 

Finally, the German side is back. Making their return for the first time since the Baoding stop in June, the Sonja Greinacher-led Germany will be looking to pick up where they left off. Reaching the semi-finals multiple times would have given them a chip on their shoulder. They will be a force to reckon with come Saturday.

The Field

Gyor has proven to be tough competition each time. The likes of Vivi Borondy and Klaudia Papp have shone, proving to be lethal difference makers. Odds are against them, but they have the ability to defy them all.

The effervescent Japan will also be taking to court, guaranteeing us some “blink and you’ll miss it” basketball.

Poland have shown their grit each time out, going as far as the finals a few stops ago. With lethal shooters and off-ball pesky defenders, they are sure to make it a nightmare matchup for whoever they come up against.  

Chile have been the talk of the Nations League Americas Stop over the week, one of the names who has made some massive buckets, including a game winning two, is Jovanka Ljubetic. She will take to court in Edmonton and show fans just what Chilean 3x3 is about. 

Pools

Pool A: Canada, Japan, Poland

Pool B: China, Hungary, USA 24

Pool C: France, Gyor (HUN), Chile

Pool D: USA, Germany, New Zealand

How to watch

The action goes down in Edmonton on July 29-30  and you can catch it all on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel and Facebook pages.