WUHAN, China — The Netherlands battled through a competitive Pool B campaign, but they still managed to finish at the top and book their place in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026.
The Dutch women opened Day 2 with a 16-14 win over Czechia before falling 14-13 to Chinese Taipei. They returned to action on Day 4 with a narrow 14-13 victory over Canada before closing their pool phase with an 18-13 win over Poland.
The 3-1 record left the defending Women's U23 World Cup champions tied with Canada, but the Dutch claimed first place in Pool B via the tie-breaker and will face the United States in the Quarter-Finals on Day 5.
Battle from the start
For Lotte van Kruistum, the win over Canada was particularly important after the Netherlands' shocking defeat to Chinese Taipei.
"We have to win both of these games to go through the pool phase," Van Kruistum said of the team's mindset heading into their last two pool games. "We really want to, so we know Canada has won everything, so it was a tough game to play. They play hard, we play hard."
The Netherlands ultimately found a way through the tightly contested matchup, with Van Kruistum pointing to the team's execution on offense.
"We knew the options, from us and our offense, so that really worked out," she added.
The road to the Quarter-Finals was not without challenges, of course. Van Kruistum acknowledged that the team had struggled to find their rhythm on the opening day, having not played together much during the season.
"But you know, from the last championships we know, we know we can get like a medal, so we really fight for it," she said. "And game for game, and we're gonna see."
Defense first
Van Kruistum also outlined what she brings to the Netherlands' approach as they move into the knockout rounds.
"I think, like always work hard, and really fight like every game," she said. "Defensive pressure, making stops, and out of there the offense will come."
That mentality will now be put to the test in the Quarter-Finals, with the Netherlands set to face the United States as the knockout rounds begin in Wuhan.
One more win will take them to the Semi-Finals and bring them one step closer to the medal Van Kruistum and the Netherlands are fighting to defend.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour 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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