MIES (Switzerland) - WS Heroes celebrates the players who have defined the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2026 season. Looking ahead to the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final, this series spotlights the stars whose performances, leadership and unique playing styles have shaped the race for the biggest women's 3x3 basketball title of the year.
Some players dominate games with scoring. Others do it through defense, rebounding or playmaking. Noortje Driessen does all of it. The Dutch star has developed into one of 3x3 basketball's most complete players, capable of finding different ways to influence a game regardless of what the defense throws at her. And when the stakes rise, that versatility has made her increasingly difficult to keep out of the action.
The Complete Player
Driessen enters the closing stretch of the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series ranked No. 2 in the individual rankings after helping the Netherlands claim five stop of their six WS stop victories. She has also collected MVP honors at WS Amsterdam and WS CS Rapid, further underlining her ability to deliver when it matters.
Her numbers paint a picture of a player who contributes everywhere. Driessen has recorded 156 points, 66 rebounds and 54 key assists, while ranking fourth in total drives and second in free throws made with 42. Her 207.6 Overall Player Value ranks eighth on the circuit, while her 104 highlights are sixth overall.
No single statistic defines her impact. That is precisely what makes her so difficult to contain.
Whatever the Game Demands
Driessen's greatest strength is adaptability. Give her space and she can attack. Collapse the defense and she can create for a teammate. Make the game physical and she can battle for rebounds and second chances. Take away one option and she has another.
During the FIBA 3x3 Womens Series CS Rapid, Driessen had one of her defining moments of the season. Home team Rapid Bucharest kept pace early in the championship game, with the game tied at 5-all before the Netherlands began to establish control. The Dutch opened up a 13-10 lead midway through the contest and extended their advantage to 17-12 with less than three minutes remaining.
Rapid continued to fight, but the Netherlands refused to let the hosts back into the game. Driessen then put the finishing touches on another championship performance, converting free-throws to close out the 21-15 victory. She finished with 8 points in their win over the hosts, including hitting 7-of-8 free-throws. It was a testament to her composure and ability to influence the outcome against a very tough opponent.
That makes Driessen particularly valuable in 3x3 basketball, where every possession can change the course of a game. She can be the scorer on one possession, the creator on the next and the defensive disruptor after that. She does not need the offense built around her to leave an imprint.
A Champion's Pedigree
Her ability to adapt has translated spectacularly to the international stage. After helping the Netherlands finish runners-up at both the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup and World Cup in 2022, Driessen became part of a golden era that saw the Dutch win the Europe Cup 2023 and claim bronze in 2024.
Then came 2025. Driessen was named Europe Cup MVP as the Netherlands captured another continental title before earning World Cup MVP honors while leading the Dutch women to their first FIBA 3x3 World Cup crown.
The success continued in 2026, when she was named Champions Cup MVP as the Netherlands lifted another major international banner. The Dutch then added a third-place finish at the World Cup 2026, further cementing their status among the world's elite.
Another Crown in Sight
Now, Driessen has another opportunity to add to that collection. The Netherlands enter the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2026 as the No. 1 seed and defending champions, with Driessen expected to return carrying the MVP pedigree of the previous edition.
Before then, however, comes the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final, where the No. 2-ranked player in the competition will look to turn another season of remarkable consistency into another trophy.
World champion. Europe Cup champion. Champions Cup champion. MVP at all three.
Noortje Driessen has already shown that there is rarely only one way for her to win. And when the biggest games arrive, that makes her simply inevitable.
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