BORDEAUX (France) - Neftchi SOCAR (AZE) will enter the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Bordeaux 2026 as the top seed, but they will face a deep international field with Amsterdam (NED), Rapid Bucharest (ROU), France (FRA) and Beijing (CHN) also among the leading contenders. With 16 teams set to battle it out, Bordeaux is ready to host another high-level stop on the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series calendar.
Neftchi SOCAR have plenty of motivation heading into Bordeaux. The Azerbaijanis last lifted a Women’s Series trophy at WS Marseille and have since endured a difficult stretch, failing to make it past the Quarter-Finals at their last three stops. Alexandra Mollenhauer & Co. will be determined to rediscover their winning form and make the most of their position as the No. 1 seed.
Full Seedings List
1. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE) 2. Amsterdam (NED) 3. Rapid Bucharest (ROU) 4. France (FRA) 5. Beijing (CHN) 6. Spain (ESP) 7. France U25 (FRA) 8. Chile (CHI) 9. Italy (ITA) 10. United States (USA) 11. Czechia (CZE) 12. Ireland (IRL) 13. Ukraine (UKR) 14. Paraguay (PAR) 15. Egypt (EGY) 16. Sweden (SWE)
Pools
Qualifying Draw A: Czechia (CZE), Paraguay (PAR), Egypt (EGY) Qualifying Draw B: Ireland (IRL), Ukraine (UKR), Sweden (SWE)
Main Draw
Pool A: Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Chile (CHI), Italy (ITA) Pool B: Amsterdam (NED), France (FRA), United States (USA) Pool C: Rapid Bucharest (ROU), Spain (ESP), QD A Pool D: France U25 (FRA), Beijing (CHN), QD B
Players to Watch
Of course, Mollenhauer will once again be at the heart of Neftchi SOCAR's campaign. The Azerbaijan star regained her No. 1 ranking (based on total player value) on the Women’s Series circuit and will be looking to turn that individual quality into another deep run for her team. With Neftchi SOCAR chasing their first stop victory since Marseille, Mollenhauer will be central to their hopes of returning to the top of the podium.
Amsterdam will arrive as the No. 2 seed with plenty of momentum behind the Dutch program. Liselot Kulk and Co. will be eager to add an Amsterdam title to a memorable recent stretch for the Netherlands, which saw the Netherlands U25 (NED) and Netherlands (NED) teams both claim Women’s Series victories over the past weekend. Kulk will now look to lead Amsterdam to their first stop win of the season.
Rapid Bucharest are seeded third and have one of the circuit's biggest threats in Hortense Limouzin. The French star has guided Rapid to two Women’s Series stop victories in their last three appearances and currently ranks No. 2 in the Women’s Series in total player value. With Limouzin in top form, Rapid will be one of the teams to beat in Bordeaux.
France take the No. 4 seed and will have home support behind them as they chase a breakthrough. Marie Mané has been a driving force for the French throughout the season, but the team are still searching for their first Women’s Series stop victory of 2026. With home fans surely cheering Mané and her teammates, Bordeaux could provide the perfect setting for the French to finally turn strong performances into a title.
Beijing are seeded fifth and continue to establish themselves among the leading teams on the circuit. Zhang ZhiTing has been a major reason for their position among the top three teams in the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series standings, with her scoring, size and presence around the basket giving Beijing a difficult matchup for any opponent. The Chinese side will now look to turn their consistency into their first stop win of the season.
Spain will also be one to watch closely as they welcome back Gracia Alonso de Armiño to the active roster. De Armiño led Spain to their only Women’s Series stop victory of the season at WS Bucharest, but that breakthrough came more than a month ago. Her return gives Spain another experienced weapon as they look to rediscover the form that carried them to the top of the podium in Romania.
France U25 (FRA) and Chile (CHI) round out the teams seeded inside the top eight, with both capable of disrupting the established order. The young French side will face Beijing in Pool D, while Chile join top seed Neftchi SOCAR and Italy (ITA) in Pool A. With the qualifying teams still to be determined, both groups could become even more unpredictable once the final Main Draw spots are decided.
The Qualifying Draw will feature six teams fighting for the final two places in the Main Draw. Czechia (CZE), Paraguay (PAR) and Egypt (EGY) will battle in Qualifying Draw A, while Ireland (IRL), Ukraine (UKR) and Sweden (SWE) will meet in Qualifying Draw B. With only one team from each qualifying group advancing, there will be little margin for error.
With Neftchi SOCAR aiming to rediscover their winning touch, Amsterdam chasing their first stop victory of the season, Rapid Bucharest arriving with Limouzin in outstanding form and France looking to capitalize on home support, Bordeaux promises another fiercely contested stop on the 2026 Women’s Series calendar.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official Women's Series website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. 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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