Another U.S. takeover at FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Constanta?

CONSTANTA (Romania) - With just two stops left, the race to the Women's Series Final is heating up in Constanta, Romania on August 14-15.

Will the United States confirm their win at the latest stop in Klaipeda? Will Spain remain on top of the standings until the end of the regular season? Will Canada make a miraculous comeback? 

These are some of the questions surrounding the fifth stop of the season, that will take place in Mamaia Beach, the famous Romanian touristic destination from the city of Constanta.

 
USA had a statement first-ever win on the Women's Series in Klaipeda, Lithuania two weeks ago. Undefeated though the final went to the wire, an 19-17 OT win against Spain.

Just one of the four players who won in Klaipeda will be back on the Women's Series (Breanna Richardson, who actually scored the game-winner against Spain). But the new-look team will have a strong WNBA flavor, including the 2021 draft pick, 22-year-old N'dea Jones.

They will face the big rivals from Canada and the hosts, Romania, in Pool B.

With their only presence this year in Voiron, when they finished 9th, without making it out of the pool phase, Canada want to push the pedal to the metal as they only have now two events more, Constanta and Montreal, to try to reach the Bucharest Final.

 

After a historic participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - only the second for Romanian basketball - the hosts end up in this pool of death, with USA and Canada. Romania will try to exceed expectations, led by Europe Cup 2016 silver medalist, Anca Sipos.

Spain, the current leader of the season, will definitely want to get revenge for the loss in Klaipeda and are looking for their second title of the season after the perfect run they had in Mies. They are bringing in Constanta the big guns like Women's Series top scorer Sandra Ygueravide, Aitana Cuevas or Vega Gimeno, so anything less than a final will be a letdown. They will meet the Netherlands and Austria in Pool C, two teams in the Top 10 this season (6th and 10th respectively).

The talented Polish team is still looking for their first win at the Women's Series after a brilliant final in Mies at the start of the season. Led by the flashy Anna Pawlowska, Poland are the favorite in Pool D, against Russia U25 and Slovakia.

With the Olympic silver medalists Russia bringing in Constanta a team for the future, things should be interesting the Pool A, with Hungary and Germany eager to make their presence felt. Keep an eye on the 6ft 3in (1.90m) Sonja Greinacher who has been a menace in the Series this season and led her team to third place in Lithuania two weeks ago.

 

You can watch the livestream the event on the official FIBA Twitch Channel, FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages. Make sure to follow @FIBA3x3W on Instagram as well, the official women's account of FIBA 3x3.

FIBA