ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - A new generation thrillingly emerged at an incredible FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 in a tilting of power for the half-court game.
For the first time since the inaugural event, there were four first-time finalists with Netherlands and host Mongolia squaring off in the women's, while Spain and Switzerland did battle in the men's.
The Netherlands became the seventh women's champions, while Spain were just the fourth men's winners in the ninth edition of a tournament that began in 2012.
Time will tell if the traditional powers have been overtaken, but there is no doubt that there are winds of change in the international 3x3 arena.
Let's take a look at the New Gen who took the half-court by storm in Ulaanbaatar.
Spain (men's)
Spain had only appeared twice before at the World Cup - in 2012 and 2016, where they finished fourth. Even at the Euro Cup, Spain have only made it to the final four once from six events and they had not quite been able to replicate the enormous success of their women counterparts.
But Spain turned it around during a thrilling run in Ulaanbaatar led by MVP Guim Exposito, who had his big breakout having shown glimpses for emerging Barcelona (ESP) on the World Tour.
It wasn't just new blood starring with Spanish stalwart Carlos Martinez, a stalwart for Lausanne (SUI) on the World Tour, breaking down with understandable emotion after the triumph.
It might have taken longer than expected, but Spain have made their mark and don't expect this to be a flash in the pan. They should cement themselves as a 3x3 power in the years ahead.
Netherlands (women's)
The Dutchwomen have been a force for some time underlining the pioneering country's long-time commitment to 3x3.
They've been a power in the Women's Series and are former European champs, but they still fell short of top dog status having never contended before at a World Cup nor qualified for the Olympics.
The Women in Orange have circled 2025 as a legacy defining year. And it's worked a treat with the Netherlands now undisputedly the world's No.1 team. They are the standard bearer having won the World Cup on the back of dominating the first-half of the Women's Series 2025.
World Cup MVP Noortje Driessen is a two-way tour de force and she is not just No.1 in the rankings - the eye test also backs this up. At 25, her best years might scarily still be ahead. She forms the deadliest duo in the women's game with Janis Boonstra, who is just as mean to her opponents. Ilse Kuijt and Evelien Schipholt are also only in their mid-20s as the Netherlands look set to dominate for many years to come.
Switzerland (men's)
Switzerland holds a special place in men's 3x3. Lausanne is one of the favorite annual stops on the World Tour calendar and the Swiss have produced several beloved 3x3 players, notably wizard Giles Martini and excitement machine Wes Molteni.
But Switzerland have never quite been able to develop as a national team and shrug off an unwanted perception of being an underachiever. Until now when they showcased in Ulaanbaatar the type of resiliency and grit that had previously eluded them.
Switzerland produced their greatest ever moment in any form of hoops after downing six-time champs Serbia in a semi-final upset for the ages. They rode the inside presence of Jonathan Dubas, but it was much-loved Natan Jurkovic who lit the fuse with a powerful performance.
He rewound the clock having burst onto the scene a decade ago as the next big thing in 3x3. Injuries and inconsistencies became a bane, but Jurkovic is now fit and firing as he continually drove down the lane like Brad Pitt in F1.
Switzerland's performance was a long time coming, but you figure this is the start of sustained success.
Mongolia (women's)
Do you still feel amped up? That's probably because the buzz from Mongolia's stirring performance is still making you feel giddy.
Mongolia's barnstorming run all the way to the final against the odds was a sight to behold. There won't be a more spine-tingling performance than this in all of sports in 2025.
While they were inspired by their partisan fans, Mongolia showed they have serious talent as they reap the investment the country has put into 3x3.
Ariuntsetseg Bat-Erdene was clutch all tournament and finished as the leading scorer in the women's draw. She has absolute nerves of steel as she showed with the two-point buzzer beater for the ages in Mongolia's OT win over Poland.
She's already a legend in Mongolia, but at 24 her best years are still ahead. Their inspirational leader Khulan Onolbaatar is only 25, while teenager Nandinkhusel Nyamjav is a rising star.
Mongolia will be delighted to have made history with a first-ever World Cup medal, but their next goal will be to win gold. You would be foolish to bet against these Mongolian heroes.
Germany (men's)
The Germans have been hyped for a long time ever since Fabian Giessmann and Denzel Agyeman ran riot at the youth level. They've become grown men and ensured that Germany have become the new kids on the 3x3 block.
Not only were these crazy athletic Germans must watch, but they are born winners as they led Germany into the knockouts for the first time in just their fourth World Cup appearance. They weren't happy just making the numbers as they delivered a quarter-final beat down of former champs USA before falling to Spain.
In what appeared a changing of the guard moment, Germany stormed out of the blocks against Serbia in the bronze medal game before the lights of the big stage got a bit too bright.
But their stocks are incredibly high and a successful era looms for a team that also boasts 24-year-old scoring machine Leon Fertig and exciting 20-year-old Sidi Beikame. Germany are poised to take men's 3x3 by storm over the next decade.
Shout outs: Puerto Rico (men's) and Poland (women's)
We just had to give a shout out to Puerto Rico, who almost took out Serbia in the quarters before losing by just one-point.
Sharpshooter Antonio Ralat just keeps getting better and better. He finished with an insane average of 10 ppg - just shaded by Japanese sensation Ryo Ozawa's incredible 11.5 ppg - to stamp himself as 3x3's most lethal shooter.
Poland were oh so close to a first ever medal having lost in heartbreaking fashion to Mongolia in the semis. They were denied a medal after losing to Canada in the fight for bronze, but Poland still had a stellar campaign having beaten former champs France and Olympic gold medalist Germany in the knockouts.
Highly-talented Aleksandra Zięmborska stamped herself as one of the very best young talents after an electric performance in Ulaanbaatar.
FIBA