World champs France out to prove depth of talent at FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Ulaanbaatar Stop

ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - Their World Cup heroes might not be available, but France are out to show off their emerging talent at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Ulaanbaatar Stop on July 1-2, 2022.

Eight teams are aiming for glory in popular 3x3 destination Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia where 3x3 is king. It is the third stop in this season's Women's Series, which now takes centre stage after the showstopper in Antwerp. 

The Favorites

After Les Bleues thrillingly won the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, their new brigade are surely inspired to get more silverware for France. 

The No.2 seed boast insanely talented duo Maud Stervinou and Victoria Majekodunmi, who won bronze at FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2019. If you've never seen 25-year-old Majekodunmi then you're in for a treat as she is an absolute flame thrower. Also the event will mark Romane Bernies' official debuts in 3x3. The shifty 29-year-old represented France at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018.

 
But out to spoil the French party is No.1 seed Poland, who finished fourth at the season opener in Tel Aviv. They are bringing back the same players who had mixed success at the World Cup, where Poland stormed through Pool C before being upset by Lithuania in the quarter-finals. 

Poland will have every opportunity to go all the way if the dynamic duo Aldona Morawiec and Klaudia Sosnowska get going like they did during the pool stage in Antwerp. 

European power Netherlands will be looking to rebound after their World Cup disappointment when they were knocked out in the play-in to the quarter-finals by Lithuania. The Dutch women have three players returning from Antwerp and importantly one of them is Natalie Van Den Adel, whose silky skills need no introduction.

The Field

There are naturally a slew of Mongolian teams in the field, highlighted by No.4 seed Ulaanbaatar Amazons. The new private team is hoping for better chemistry after just one win in Tel Aviv but they should be better second time around. 

Canadian recruit Rashida Timbilla has the experience to lead a youthful Ulaanbaatar, who just have to be rated a threat due to the support of their incredibly loud fans. 

Talk about talent and we just have to mention Netherlands U24, who are oozing with young guns. Having had a taste of the big time at the World Cup, 22-year-old Noortje Driessen is set to enter Ulaanbaatar with swagger so don't be surprised if she's a breakout star. 

You want a long shot? Then Romania might be able to rediscover their best from the past even though they are coming off a winless World Cup.

Romania were, however, competitive throughout with one of their two remainders of that team being inspirational leader. Olympian Ancuţa Stoenescu, who has a knack for hitting the big shots in clutch time.

She might just have one more magic trick up her sleeve. 

Pools

Pool A: Poland, Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL), Netherlands, Sukhbaatar Amazons (MGL) 
Pool B: France, Netherlands U24, Mongolia, Romania

How to watch

The two-day extravaganza is on July 1-2 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.

FIBA