BATAM (Indonesia) – The Netherlands (NED) made a splash after a three-week rest with a commanding performance in Batam, Indonesia, defeating China (CHN) in the Final to capture the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Batam 2026 title on July 24. Behind another stellar display from tournament MVP Evelien Lutje Schipholt, the Dutch completed an unbeaten run through the tournament to collect valuable Race to the Final points and reaffirm their status among the season's leading contenders.
The Winner
After returning to the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series following nearly a month away from the circuit, the Dutch looked refreshed, storming through the tournament unbeaten. They outscored opponents 98-40 across five games, showcasing the balanced offense, disciplined defense and trademark teamwork that have made them one of the world's elite teams.
The Runner-up
China continued another impressive FIBA 3x3 Women's Series campaign by reaching the Final after surviving one thriller after another.
The third seeds swept Pool C before edging fellow Chinese side Beijing (CHN) in an overtime Quarter-Finals and then outlasting Thailand in another overtime battle in the Semi-Finals. While they ultimately ran into a Dutch team firing on all cylinders, China once again demonstrated why they remain among the tour's most consistent squads.
The Final
The championship game was competitive early as the Dutch and Chinese traded baskets through a 3-3 start before the Netherlands gradually began taking control. Holding a narrow 6-5 advantage midway through the contest, the Dutch shifted into another gear with suffocating defense and efficient execution on offense.
A decisive scoring burst opened a 13-7 cushion before the Netherlands stretched the margin to 18-9 with under two minutes remaining as China struggled to find any offensive rhythm. Evelien Lutje Schipholt once again led the charge with an outstanding 11-point performance, while Noortje Driessen fittingly scored the title-clinching basket to seal a commanding 22-9 victory.
Road to the Final
The Netherlands barely broke a sweat during pool play, crushing Romania (ROU) 21-7 before dismantling Beijing 21-4 to comfortably top Pool A. They maintained that momentum in the knockout rounds, with Schipholt pouring in 11 points during a convincing 21-11 Quarter-Finals win over Latvia (LAT) before another composed defensive effort secured a 13-9 Semi-Finals victory against France (FRA).
China also entered Day 2 unbeaten after victories over Egypt (EGY) and Latvia in Pool C. Their road became considerably tougher in the knockout rounds, however. They needed overtime to outlast Beijing 21-20 in a thrilling all-Chinese Quarter-Finals before producing another dramatic comeback against Thailand (THA) in the Semi-Finals. Trailing 13-12 in the closing seconds, Li Wenxia forced overtime before she and Yang Hengyu combined to complete a hard-fought 15-13 victory and book China's place in the Final.
Elsewhere, Thailand produced one of the tournament's biggest moments by rallying from six points down to stun Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL) during pool play before knocking out Philippines (PHI) in the Quarter-Finals to secure a well-earned top four finish. France continued their impressive run of consistency by reaching another Semi-Finals after surviving a tense overtime battle against Ulaanbaatar Amazons in the last eight.
The Reward
The Netherlands leave Batam with their second FIBA 3x3 Women's Series title of the season, valuable standings points in the Race to the Final and increased momentum as the season heads into its next stretch. China also strengthened their position with another runner-up finish, while Thailand and France rounded out the top four spots after impressive tournaments of their own.
MVP
Tournament MVP honors went to Evelien Lutje Schipholt, who powered the Netherlands throughout the weekend. The Dutch star finished as the tournament's leading scorer with 39 points while posting a 40.5 player value. She also led all players with 12 free-throws made and 11 total offensive rebounds. Schipholt delivering dominant performances throughout the knockout rounds, including 11 points in both the Quarter-Finals and Final.
Final Standings
1. Netherlands (NED) 2. China (CHN) 3. Thailand (THA) 4. France (FRA) 5. Ulaanbaatar Amazons (MGL) 6. Latvia (LAT) 7. Beijing (CHN) 8. Philippines (PHI) 9. Egypt (EGY) 10. Japan (JPN) 11. Romania (ROU) 12. Indonesia (INA) 13. Slovakia (SVK) 14. Mongolia (MGL) 15. Manila (PHI) 16. Vietnam (VIE)
What's Next
The FIBA 3x3 Women's Series continues on August 1-2 as many of the world's best teams head to Tokyo, Japan for another crucial stop on the 2026 season. With Race to the Final points becoming increasingly valuable, expect another fierce battle as the chase for the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026 intensifies.
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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