UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - The calendar has ticked over into April and that means the FIBA 3x3 World Tour's new season is about to start.
The 14th season will launch in traditional style at the Utsunomiya Opener on April 26-27 and there will be 14 teams eager to start on a winning note.
The teams: Ub (SRB), Toulouse (FRA), Miami (USA), Amsterdam (NED), Vienna (AUT), Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), Riffa (BRN), Liman (SRB), Partizan (SRB), London (USA), Sagamihara HIU EXE (JPN), Tennoz (JPN), Utsunomiya (JPN), Hiratsuka (JPN)
The best of the best will be pitted against one another in Utsunomiya, Japan's historical site that has been home to many famous 3x3 games over the years. The top 10 ranked teams received their spots through hard seeds, with No.1 Ub narrowly falling short of a three-peat last year after falling to Miami (USA) in an epic final.
Some of your favorite players will be back on the half-court and determined to start the season strongly with reigning World Tour Final champs Amsterdam (NED) having already announced their line-up, which includes superstar Worthy de Jong.
Another team to have confirmed their line-up is Partizan (SRB), who are desperate to rebound after a title-less run on last year's World Tour. But they will unleash superstar Stefan Milivojevic, who is set to take his dynamic game to new heights after an MVP performance for Serbia at the first-ever FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup.
The 3x3 Gladiator was flexing his guns in Bangkok and he is hoping to do the same alongside rising star Vuk Borovicanin.
There will be some new names, but you will recognize the dudes wearing different colors. No.2 seed Toulouse are the artists formerly known as Paris, who lit up the World Tour last year, while London aren't a team from England. They have rebranded from iconic Princeton as they start a new chapter for American 3x3.
There needs to be a local flavor and the Japanese fans will have four teams to get behind with Sagamihara HIU EXE, Tennoz, Utsunomiya and Hiratsuka all hoping to go on giant-killing runs. These Japanese teams have received their place through wildcards.
Hopes are high after the success of Japan's men's side at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2025 with scoring machine Ryo Ozawa producing a heater for the ages in Singapore.
As we inch closer to the Utsunomiya Opener, stay tuned for confirmed line-ups of all the 14 teams gunning for glory at what promises to be the best ever World Tour.
FIBA