ANTWERP (Belgium) – The Netherlands arrive in Antwerp with a FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan crown to defend and a painful reminder of how difficult defending major titles can be. The Dutch won the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025, but were unable to retain their world title in 2026. Their latest FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series campaign also ended short of the top banner, with Rapid Bucharest eliminating them in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026. Now, the Netherlands have another major championship to protect: the Europe Cup, which they won in Copenhagen last year.
That makes Antwerp about more than simply another tournament. The Dutch entered 2026 holding both the World Cup and Europe Cup titles, but one has already slipped away. They will not want the same fate to await the other.
The Shanghai result adds another layer to that story. The Netherlands fell 18-14 to Rapid Bucharest in the Semi-Finals before finishing third, underlining once again how little separates the leading teams in women's 3x3 basketball. Prior to that loss, they had won 27 Women's Series games in succession. Now, though, there is no time to dwell on that result, especially with another major competition and another opportunity to make a statement about to begin.
The Netherlands know how to win the Europe Cup. They have already done it. We have already seen it. They defeated Azerbaijan in the Europe Cup 2025 Final to claim the crown in Copenhagen, and now they are seeking to become back-to-back champions. Repeating, however, brings its own challenge as the rest of the field knows what the defending champions are capable of. Every opponent certainly has the same objective of taking the gold away from them.
Noortje Driessen will be central to that mission. The reigning Europe Cup MVP returns as one of the Netherlands' key leaders, bringing experience from the biggest stages of 3x3 basketball. However, the Dutch will also need significant contributions from Janis Boonstra, Ilse Kuijt and Evelien Lutje Schipholt as they look to navigate another high-pressure national-team tournament.
Interestingly enough, their Pool A draw provides an early test. Azerbaijan and Ukraine join the Netherlands in the group, with the meeting against Azerbaijan carrying plenty of recent history. The Dutch beat Azerbaijan in last year's Europe Cup Final, while they also defeated Neftchi SOCAR -- featuring Azerbaijan players -- 22-12 in Shanghai. At the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026, the Netherlands again came out on top against Azerbaijan, winning 19-13 in pool play and 21-14 in the battle for third place.
Azerbaijan will now get another chance in Antwerp, while Ukraine will look to disrupt the established order in a pool where every game matters.
The stakes extend beyond another European banner as well. The Europe Cup 2026 champions will qualify for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2027 and FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup 2027, giving the Netherlands another reason to keep their focus firmly on the crown.
They have already lost one title they entered the year determined to defend. They will not want to lose another. Can the Netherlands turn their recent disappointments into the motivation needed to keep hold of their Europe Cup crown?
Antwerp holds the key.
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