Latvia and USA Become 3×3 Basketball World Champions
The 3×3 Basketball World Cup concluded in Warsaw. The Latvian men's team defeated Germany (20:15) in the final, winning their first title and completing the collection of major trophies. The US women's team beat Australia (21:20), claiming their fourth title in history.
Latvia and USA are 3×3 Basketball World Champions: triumph in Warsaw, historic gold, and dramatic finals
Main Event
On June 7, 2026, Defilad Square in the heart of Warsaw became the epicenter of world 3×3 basketball. Here, against the backdrop of the majestic Palace of Culture and Science, the milestone tenth 3×3 Basketball World Cup concluded, delivering two dramatic finals that will go down in the history of the sport. The Latvian men's team won world championship gold for the first time, while the US women's team reclaimed the title, snatching victory in a tense finish.
The men's final started nervously for the Latvians. Germany, seeded sixth and considered the tournament's dark horse, immediately seized the initiative and built a three-point lead. The Germans played aggressively and cohesively, their defense preventing Latvia's leaders from fully finding their rhythm. It seemed the German coach's squad was ready to pull off a sensation.
However, 3×3 basketball is a game of sudden shifts. Olympic heroes Nauris Miezis and Kārlis Lasmanis gradually cut the deficit to a minimum, but Germany responded with a precise long-range shot, restoring a comfortable +3. The real turning point came midway through the match when Kārlis Lasmanis stepped up. In less than a minute, the 31-year-old veteran scored four consecutive points, putting Latvia ahead 11:10. The stands, filled with Latvian fans, erupted.
What followed was a seesaw battle. The teams traded scoring attacks. A precise long-range shot by Miezis gave Latvia a slim lead again, but Germany didn't give up: a free throw and a drive to the basket returned the lead to the Germans at 15:14. With two minutes left in regulation, Latvia made a decisive 4-0 run, making it 18:15. After that, Lasmanis scored from under the basket (19:15), and half a minute later added another point to set the final score at 20:15.
The women's final was even more dramatic. The US team, reaching the final after an overtime win over Azerbaijan (19:18), faced Australia, whom they had already beaten in the group stage (21:18). The Americans started strong: Sahara Williams opened the scoring with a two-pointer, and by mid-first half the US led 7:3, and after the second media timeout, 12:9. MiLaysia Fulwiley, a South Carolina player, extended the lead to 15:10 with a two-pointer with three minutes left.
But the Australians, inspired by Amy Atwell—the tournament's top scorer with 49 points—staged an incredible comeback. With 1 minute 49 seconds left on the clock, they tied the game at 17:17. Two consecutive two-pointers from Australia put them ahead 20:19. In 3×3 basketball, victory goes to the first to reach 21 points, and Australia was just one step away from gold.
Then came the moment that decided the championship. Younger Mikaylah Williams, a 19-year-old rising star from LSU, took the ball and with 40 seconds left on the final buzzer, calmly sank a two-point shot. 21:20—the US snatched victory at the last breath and claimed their fourth world championship gold in history.
Details and Statistics
The men's final was a showcase for Kārlis Lasmanis. The 31-year-old veteran, Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020, scored 12 points, accounting for 60% of his team's total. Throughout the tournament, Lasmanis was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and selected to the All-Tournament Team. Francis Lācis added 4 points, Nauris Miezis 3, and Zigmārs Raimo 1. For Germany, Denzel Agyeman, also named to the All-Tournament Team, was the best with 9 points.
The women's final set several records. Mikaylah Williams, named tournament MVP, scored 46 points over seven games and delivered two consecutive game-winning shots—in the semifinal against Azerbaijan and in the final against Australia. MiLaysia Fulwiley was the final's top scorer with 9 points. Australia's Amy Atwell finished the tournament with 49 points, becoming the women's top scorer, and was also included in the All-Tournament Team.
Notable attendance statistics: over 89,000 people attended the tournament over seven days, with all seven evening sessions completely sold out—17,500 tickets each. This confirms the growing popularity of 3×3 basketball, which debuted at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Also worth noting is the performance of debutants. The Madagascar men's team, starting the tournament with two losses, managed to beat Australia and defending world champions Spain, reaching the playoffs for the first time in history. Their story became one of the most touching of the tournament. The Philippines women's team participated in the World Cup for the first time and showed a commendable level.
Context and Significance
Latvia's victory in the men's tournament is a historic achievement that completes the collection of major trophies in 3×3 basketball. The Latvian men's team became the first in the world to win the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020), the European Championship (2017), and the World Cup (2026). They also previously held the 2020 World Tour title. This is the so-called "triple crown"—the highest achievement that no other men's national team has accomplished.
For Latvia, a country with a population of less than 2 million, this success is immensely significant. 3×3 basketball has become a true national sport, and the triumph in Warsaw confirms that the "golden generation" of Latvian basketball players, led by Lasmanis and Miezis, is still capable of dominating the world stage. They started the tournament in Warsaw seeded only seventh, but that did not prevent them from going all the way to the top.
For the US women's team, this gold is their fourth in history (2012, 2014, 2023, and 2026) and an important return to the top after the disappointment of the 2025 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar, where the Americans left without medals. The team, composed of NCAA student-athletes, proved that the US training system works flawlessly. Mikaylah Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards, and Sahara Williams—all represent elite college basketball, and their victory is a statement of dominance in the sport for years to come.
Australia, for its part, reached the women's World Cup final for the first time in history, marking huge progress for the "Opals," who are gradually becoming a leading force in women's 3×3 basketball.
What's Next / Upcoming Match Announcement
The World Cup in Warsaw was a crucial milestone on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. For all participants, the tournament provided valuable experience and ranking points that will affect seeding in future qualifying tournaments.
For Latvia, the immediate goal will be to defend their European Championship title, which will take place in 2027, as well as preparation for the 2028 Olympic qualifiers. Given that 3×3 basketball is included in the Olympic program, Latvia intends not only to participate but also to defend its Olympic gold.
The US team, having won gold, will continue their march in the Women's Series, where they have won the last two tournaments in a row—for the first time since 2019. Their goal is to maintain the top spot in the world rankings and approach Los Angeles in optimal form.
The next major 3×3 basketball tournament is the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Singapore. Asia takes the baton from Warsaw, and it is already expected that all teams will begin preparations for this event. Also in 2027, the Pan American Games and European Games will take place, where 3×3 basketball will be featured in the full program.
Editorial Forecast
Although the World Cup has already ended, we can take stock and assess the balance of power ahead of the next tournaments. The Latvian men's team proved that age is no obstacle if you have character and skill. Lasmanis and Miezis, both over 30, are still the best players in the world. However, the question arises: who will succeed them? The next World Cup in Singapore could be their last at such a high level. Latvia needs to find young replacements to maintain its leadership.
In women's basketball, the US showed that their college system produces talents capable of winning tournaments without lengthy preparation of professional national teams. Mikaylah Williams, only 19, is already a world-class star. Together with Fulwiley, they form a duo that will dominate at least until the 2028 Olympics. Australia, in turn, showed they are on the right track. Amy Atwell, the tournament's top scorer, is one of the best shooters in the world. If the Australians add bench depth, they will be the main contenders for gold in Los Angeles.
Separately, the progress of the Madagascar and Philippines teams is worth noting. These teams prove that the geography of 3×3 basketball is expanding, and in the coming years we will see even more unexpected results. The World Cup in Warsaw showed the main thing: the intrigue in 3×3 lasts until the last second, and any shot can be golden. Both Latvia and the US confirmed that victory requires not only talent but also cool calculation in the decisive moment. That is what sets champions apart from the rest.
— Editorial Team
