ANTWERP (Belgium) – Three days of high-level 3x3 basketball in Antwerp produced two familiar champions and a host of memorable milestones. Latvia returned to the top of the European podium for the first time since 2017, while the Netherlands women successfully defended their crown to claim their third Europe Cup title in four editions. Along the way, the tournament showcased the growing depth, competitiveness and unpredictability of European 3x3.
Champions again
It had been nine years since Latvia last lifted the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup trophy, but the wait is over. The reigning world champions added a second European title to their collection after triumphing at the European Championship arena on Groenplaats in Antwerp, with Kristaps Gluditis emerging as one of the tournament's defining players along the way.
Gluditis finished with 32 points, including a tournament-best nine two-pointers, before being named Men's MVP. Latvia's triumph also adds another major trophy to a remarkable 2026, following their FIBA 3x3 World Cup success earlier in the year. The message from Latvia was clear throughout: the world champions are not satisfied with just one title.
Building a dynasty
Three titles in four editions. Back-to-back championships. The Netherlands women are establishing themselves as the team to beat in European women's 3x3 basketball. After winning the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup in 2023 and 2025, the Dutch returned to the top again in Antwerp, with their only interruption coming in 2024 when they finished third.
At the center of it all was Noortje Driessen. The reigning MVP delivered another dominant tournament, leading the competition in both points scored and Player Value with 44 and 50.7 respectively. She also topped the field in highlights, free throws made and drives. Her reward was a second consecutive Europe Cup MVP award and another sign of just how consistently she has performed on the continental stage.
Just getting deeper
If Antwerp proved anything, it is that European 3x3 basketball is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. France men returned to the podium for the first time since 2019, when they finished runners-up. Meanwhile, the Netherlands men recorded their best-ever Europe Cup finish with silver after previously taking bronze in 2016 and 2022.
Estonia men made their first appearance at the Europe Cup, while Sweden women also played in their very first Europe Cup and even recorded a victory, beating Czechia 15-12 in pool play.
Czechia women also made their return to the top eight after missing the 2024 and 2025 editions, while Slovenia women were back at the Europe Cup for the first time since 2016 and reached the Semi-Finals for the first time since 2014. For hosts Belgium, the women's team also returned to the competition for the first time since 2021.
The bigger picture is clear: more countries are competing, more teams are making breakthroughs and the gap between Europe's established powers and emerging contenders continues to narrow.
What 3x3 brings to a city
The action on court was only part of the story. More than 7,000 spectators attended the venue across the first two days, while the final day sold out all seats across both sessions. With Groenplaats transformed into a purpose-built 3x3 arena in the heart of Antwerp, the Europe Cup brought elite international basketball directly into the city.
It was a fitting setting for a discipline that continues to thrive on accessibility, atmosphere and bringing the game closer to fans.
Setting the standard
Latvia's return to European glory and the Netherlands' continued dominance offered two very different paths to the top of the podium.
For Latvia, it was a long-awaited return to the European crown, nine years after their previous title in 2017 and just months after being crowned world champions.
For the Netherlands women, it was another chapter in a remarkable run of success, with their third Europe Cup title in four editions and a second straight MVP award for Noortje Driessen.
But Antwerp was also about the bigger picture. From first-time appearances and breakthrough victories to returning contenders and new podium finishes, the tournament showcased just how quickly the European 3x3 landscape is evolving.
The Europe Cup may be over, but if Antwerp taught us anything, it is that the level, depth and ambition of European 3x3 basketball continue to rise.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
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