TAKASAKI (Japan) – The FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series reaches its last stop before the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026, with a loaded 16-team field set to battle at the Takasaki Arena on August 29-30.
Canada (CAN) lead the way as the top seed, with Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), China (CHN) and Thailand (THA) completing a formidable top four. Australia (AUS), Mitsubishi Electric (JPN), Japan (JPN) and Netherlands U25 (NED) round out the automatically seeded Main Draw teams, setting up a weekend packed with star power and high stakes.
And with just one place in the Shanghai Final still up for grabs, the pressure could hardly be greater.
Mitsubishi Electric enter Takasaki knowing exactly what is required: a top-three finish will send them to Shanghai and complete the eight-team Final field. If they fall outside the top three, Germany (GER) will claim the last Shanghai Final berth instead.
Season-ending statement
Canada arrive as the top seeds and one of the biggest names in the field, with Paige Crozon once again leading the charge. The Canadians will not be able to defend their Women's Series Final title in Shanghai after falling short of qualification, making Takasaki their final opportunity of the 2026 campaign to add another stop victory to their résumé.
Canada have already tasted success this season and will be hungry to finish on a high, but they will face a deep field from the very start. They are joined in Pool A by Netherlands U25 and Yanjing (CHN), with the latter bringing plenty of familiarity after appearing regularly on the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series circuit this season.
Elite firepower
Second seeds Neftchi SOCAR are another obvious contender, with Brianna Fraser among the players to watch in Takasaki. Fraser returned to the Women's Series at the WS Sea Breeze after a lengthy break following the WS Shanghai stop in May. With Neftchi SOCAR already qualified for the Shanghai Final, the focus now shifts toward building the momentum needed for the season's biggest stage. A win in Takasaki would provide exactly that.
Neftchi SOCAR face home sides Japan and Takasaki in Pool B, giving the Azerbaijani outfit a challenging but potentially rewarding path into the knockout rounds.
China's familiar MVP
China are seeded third and will be looking to recapture the form that carried them to victory at WS Xiantao earlier this season. Li Wenxia was the driving force behind that triumph, earning tournament MVP honors after a dominant all-around performance. She has since been occupied with China's FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League campaign, where she also helped the team claim a stop victory, but now returns to the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series stage with another chance to make an impact. China will open Pool C alongside Australia, with the third team coming from Qualifying Draw A.
Australia, meanwhile, arrive as the sixth seed and two-time FIBA 3x3 Women's Series winners this season. Marena Whittle will be hoping to lead them to a third stop victory, which is a feat achieved by only one team so far in 2026 (Netherlands).
Mitsubishi Electric's mission
No team here has more at stake than Mitsubishi Electric. The Japanese side came agonizingly close to winning WS Tokyo, where they finished runners-up to the Netherlands, and they again pushed deep last week in Bangkok, where they lost to Germany. Now, on home soil, they have one last chance to secure their place in Shanghai.
Fuyuko Takahashi will be central to that mission. One of Japan's most dangerous offensive players, Takahashi has consistently shown an ability to shoulder the scoring load on the biggest stages. Mitsubishi face Thailand and the Qualifying Draw B winners in Pool D, meaning the local crowd could be treated to some fascinating battles before the knockout rounds even begin.
Momentum
Thailand are the fourth seeds and enter Takasaki fresh from an impressive run in Bangkok. Rattiyakorn Udomsuk was at the heart of that campaign, erupting for 16 points in Thailand's Quarter-Finals victory over Australia. If she can carry that scoring touch into Takasaki, Thailand could be one of the most dangerous teams in the field. They will face Mitsubishi Electric and the winner of Qualifying Draw B in Pool D.
Intrigue
The Qualifying Draw promises plenty of intrigue as well. Mongolia (MGL), Japan U24 (JPN) and Singapore (SGP) contest Qualifying Draw A, while Poland (POL), New Zealand (NZL) and Vietnam (VIE) battle in Qualifying Draw B. The winners will join the Main Draw in Pools C and D respectively, ensuring that the path to the Quarter-Finals remains wide open.
Full Seedings List
1. Canada (CAN) 2. Neftchi SOCAR (AZE) 3. China (CHN) 4. Thailand (THA) 5. Mitsubishi Electric (JPN) 6. Australia (AUS) 7. Japan (JPN) 8. Netherlands U25 (NED) 9. Yanjing (CHN) 10. Mongolia (MGL) 11. Poland (POL) 12. New Zealand (NZL) 13. Japan U24 (JPN) 14. Singapore (SGP) 15. Takasaki (JPN) 16. Vietnam (VIE)
Pools
Qualifying Draw A: Mongolia (MGL), Japan U24 (JPN), Singapore (SGP) Qualifying Draw B: Poland (POL), New Zealand (NZL), Vietnam (VIE)
Main Draw
Pool A: Canada (CAN), Netherlands U25 (NED), Yanjing (CHN) Pool B: Neftchi SOCAR (AZE), Japan (JPN), Takasaki (JPN) Pool C: China (CHN), Australia (AUS), QD A Pool D: Thailand (THA), Mitsubishi Electric (JPN), QD B
Wide-open battle
With Canada's Crozon, Neftchi SOCAR's Fraser, China's Li, Thailand's Udomsuk, Mitsubishi Electric's Takahashi and Australia's Whittle among the names to watch, Takasaki has no shortage of star power.
That said, with FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final 2026 qualification hanging in the balance for a couple of teams and one last shot at Women's Series glory for others, the biggest storyline may simply be this: there is absolutely no room for mistakes.
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.
FIBA