First-ever private team to join FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series in 2022

TOKYO (Japan) – Xross Sports Marketing, a subsidiary of Xebio and organizers of 3×3.EXE Premier, will become the first private entity to have a team on the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series, the women’s 3×3 professional circuit.

For its third edition in 2022, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series will welcome teams registered by national federations and private promoters alike. This was a unique opportunity for Xross Sports Marketing, who has been a pioneer in 3×3 since 2014.

“We are delighted to play a leading role in the development of 3×3 in Japan and worldwide,” Xross Sports Marketing president Takaaki Nakamura said.

In 2018, the company started the first 3×3 professional league for women, which played an important role in earning enough points for Japan to secure a spot at the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualification Tournament, on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

“We’re just passionate about accelerating youth development for women with a new lifestyle and perspective through basketball. We will provide an opportunity for 3×3.EXE Premier players to go from the streets to the world stage via an open try-out selection,” Nakamura added.

The Japanese 3×3 women’s national team won the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup and the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Xiong An Stop in 2019 and were the only team to beat the eventual Olympic champions USA in Tokyo. They ranked fifth overall in the final standings.

“We’re delighted to see the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series continue to expand after 3×3’s successful debut at the Tokyo Olympics,” FIBA Executive Committee member Carol Callan said.

“We believe this will give a chance to more female talents to shine on the world stage, which is in line with one of FIBA’s three strategic pillars: the development of women in basketball.”

In 2021, 19 different teams competed in the second edition of the Women’s Series, which included 7 different events. Germany won the final, which took place in the scenic Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, an event hosted by the Romanian Basketball Federation President and FIBA Executive Committee member Carmen Tocala:

“I could see with my own eyes last summer the vast potential of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series,” Tocala said. I am delighted that FIBA has approved the possible expansion to private teams at the Women’s Series. I believe this is an important step in the growth of the competition to make it even more exciting and spectacular and an inspiration for a new generation of women who wish to become professional 3×3 players.”

Source: FIBA