Canada look to make it two-in-a-row in FIBA 3x3 Prague Women's Series Stop 2023
PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - After winning the last stop in Edmonton on home soil, Canada will look to continue on their hot form in the FIBA 3x3 Prague Stop 2023 on August 4 - 5.
Let’s dive into the fifteenth edition of the series.
The Contenders
They won the last stop and they did so in style.
Reigning Women’s Series champs Canada, led by the shooting of Paige Crozon, the grit of Kacie Bosch and the brilliance of the Plouffe Sisters won it all in Edmonton. They will look to repeat in Prague, though without the presence of Crozon who will be replaced by Jamie Scott.
The Plouffe sisters were unstoppable, Michelle Plouffe even going as far as to win MVP for the event. No team has been able to quite figure out the most effective way to contain the duo. They will be the team to beat in Prague.
France will be no pushover in the series, being the winningest side in the series besides China. Though they will be without the core that won silver in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023. Instead, it will be a youthful side led by Anna Ndjock and Marie Milapie. Camille Droguet and Coline Franchelin will also be taking the court. They have performed in different iterations of the event before, but the exuberant team will look to show qualities of the core that has proven to be so successful for Les Bleues.
The lethal dark horses of the Women’s Series are back! The deadly core of Neftchi have made waves, winning two stops so far as they look to add a third in the list. Arica Carter and Brianna Fraser have been the offensive duo that has always found a way to get buckets while Alexandra Mollenhauer and Dina Ulyanova have dominated the boards and been the pesky defenders no one wants to go up against. Their success is a product of the well-oiled machine they have become, and they’ll look to showcase that in Prague.
Sandra Ygueravide and Spain make their return in Prague as well, looking to repeat their heroics from Orleans where they were victorious. It will be the talisman joined by Gracia Alonso, Cecilia Muhate and Helena Giralt, who have the perfect combo of post post and mid-range scoring. Unstoppable on their day, it will be interesting to see how teams will look to guard against the Spanish juggernauts.
The Field
The Czech Republic made headlines in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup and for good reason. Led by rising star Katerina Galickova, the side shocked Canada in OT and continued making a statement. Their heroics haven’t translated to the Women’s Series so far, having only made it to the Quarterfinals so far. With the home crowd in their favor, maybe it is the season for upsets when it comes to the Czech Republic.
Düsseldorf ZOOS have only competed a couple times in the event so far; but they have been lethal each time. Led by Aoi Katsura, the German side is yet another example of lethal commercial teams that have the acumen to make a run for it all.
The Vivi Borondy-led Gyor fall into the same category, relying on the defense and shot-making to make deeper runs. They will be without Klaudia Papp, but they will surely be a potent side to contend with.
Pools
Pool A: Canada, Italy, Czech Republic
Pool B: France, Gyor (HUN), Israel
Pool C: Neftchi (AZR), Lithuania, Latvia
Pool D: Spain; Düsseldorf ZOOS (GER), Azerbaijan/Switzerland/Chile
How to watch
The action takes place in the Czech Republic on August 4-5 and you can catch it all on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel