Basketball: Latvia, U.S. crowned at FIBA 3×3 World Cup
Warsaw (Poland), June 8 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) Latvia and the United States claimed the respective men’s and women’s titles at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland.
Latvia defeated Germany 20-15 in the men’s final to win its first 3×3 World Cup title. The victory also made Latvia the first men’s team to complete a collection of major international honors: Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, the European Cup in 2017, and the World Cup in 2026 on Sunday.
Serbia edged France 20-19 to secure bronze.
In the women’s competition, the United States beat Australia 21-20 in a closely contested final. Mikaylah Williams scored the winning basket and was named the tournament’s MVP, reports Xinhua.
The triumph marked the fourth 3×3 World Cup title for the U.S. women, following previous victories in 2012, 2014, and 2023, while Australia made the women’s final for the first time.
The Netherlands secured the bronze medal with a 21-14 victory over Azerbaijan.
The seven-day tournament brought together 40 teams from around the world, attracting more than 100,000 spectators.
The inaugural tournament, originally named the FIBA 3×3 World Championship, was held in August 2012 in Athens, Greece. In the first edition, there was a mixed event where each team was composed of 2 men and 2 women. But now that has been discontinued, and there are only two events in the tournament: one for men and another for women.
Serbia is the most successful country in the men’s competition with six gold medals, one silver, and two bronze, while the United States is the next best with one gold and two silver medals. Latvia, Qatar, and Oman are the other countries to win the gold medal in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
The United States is the most successful nation in the women’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup with four titles and one third-place finish. France, Russia, China, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Italy are the other nations to win the title in the competition that has had 10 editions so far.
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