As well as the array of women’s basketball tournaments facilitated by Blue Star and its partners, there are also a number of FIBA events that you need to put in your 2017 diary.
The first is in less than a fortnight.
01 February: Draw for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship (Udine & Cividale del Friuli, Italy)
The draw will soon take place for this summer’s most prestigious women’s basketball youth event, when USA will be gunning for an astonishing seventh consecutive title when the action gets underway. But remember that USA will be trying to restore their winning tradition at global youth level in the wake of their shock third spot at the U17’s last year in Zaragoza.
There are 16 teams in the draw and if there is one place overseas you are thinking about heading to in 2017 where you can combine basketball with stunning food, architecture and beauty – make sure it is Udine and especially the nearby town of Cividale Del Friuli which is spectacular. The gym itself is a 10-minute walk from a jaw-dropping river and bridge in the gorgeous town.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BInC5T6DabC/?tagged=cividaledelfriuli
Indeed, no FIBA tournament has been hosted anywhere as beautiful – or at least in recent memory. The competition will be at two venues (circa 30-minute drive apart) and will take place between 22 and 30 July.
The event will see an array of stellar names taking part, with the previous edition in Chekhov, Russia seeing A’Ja Wilson crowned MVP as USA fought off a strong challenge from the host nation under the expert eye of Dawn Staley.
14 April: Euroleague Women Final Four
It’s the conclusion to the most prestigious club competition outside of the WNBA, with Taurasi, Ogwumike, Griner, Gruda, Toliver, Meesseman, Quigley etc, all names likely to appear for the long weekend. The venue will be dependent upon which clubs punch their ticket, with Kursk or Ekaterinburg in Russia potential destinations.
Last year saw one of the most memorable shootouts in any game ever when five triples were made in a row in the title game between DeWanna Bonner, Diana Taurasi and Kayla McBride!
01 June: FIBA ASIA U16 Women’s Championship (Venue TBC)
There are a couple of reasons to keep your eye on this one and most notably to see who qualifies for the 2018 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup. Also, you will remember that China are looking to punch their weight again after reaching the U17 Semi-Finals in Zaragoza last year – eventually being beaten to bronze by the USA.
06 June: FIBA Americas U16 Women’s Championship (Venue TBC)
Taking place between 06 June and 11 June, this one has to be high up on every American’s radar after the seismic shock caused by the surprise and historic Semi-Final loss to Brazil in 2015 for Dori Oldaker and her side.
#FIBAU16Americas Semifinal #1: Brazil 72 – 63 USA / Brazil plays CANvsMEX winner for the Gold tomorrow. @CBB_basquete pic.twitter.com/0uakZXc1Sa
— FIBA (@FIBA) June 28, 2015
It is essential that USA get back to winning ways as they look to improve on a 19-1 record – having previously been perfect before their Mexican mishap in Puebla!
16 June: EuroBasket Women (Prague and Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)
Some say it is the most competitive international women’s tournament around and even more fierce than the FIBA Women’s World Cup or the Olympics. In terms of all-around competitiveness, you can’t really disagree and especially now the tournament length and format has been cut – with just 16 teams for this year’s edition.
It is going to be an intense nine days and is impossible to predict even for a women’s basketball expert in Europe. Hopefully there will be another fairytale like the one Serbia delivered at the last edition – and I believe it could be the best tournament of 2017.
17 June: FIBA 3X3 World Cup [Nantes, France]
Love or hate 3×3, there’s no doubt that for a multitude of reasons, all eyes will be on this year’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Nantes France. The event will last four days and include a men’s and women’s tournament. It will be the fourth edition of the event, with teams earning their ticket thanks to their position in the FIBA 3×3 Federation Ranking.
The ranking includes sport and development criteria, with the theory that it allows both the strongest teams on the field as well as the most active countries to participate in the event -factors which fulfil a key aim of 3×3: diversity. There are plenty of followers and fans, but also sceptics looking to change the game in a different way!
But what will be very interesting from a women’s standpoint is seeing 3×3 debutantes Bahrain, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Most notably, there will be no women’s team from the USA!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOkUi5OgMLv/?taken-by=fiba3x3
28 June: FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championships [Chengdu, China]
The capital of Sichuan province and the eighth biggest city in China by population, Chengdu will host the six edition of the global event between 28 June – 2 July 2017.
China is of course credited as a pioneer in the development of 3×3, although this tournament will be interesting from the women’s perspective because it looks like the USA will be competing – albeit they are languishing in 11th in the U18 World Rankings. Andorra and Venezuela are rated higher right now.
The event will mark the second consecutive year that China hosts a high-level FIBA 3×3 event as Guangzhou organized the FIBA 3×3 World Championships (senior) last October.
More on the second half of 2017 and dates for your diaries next time!
Paul Nilsen lives and breathes women’s hoops. He’s is a freelance writer working for the sport’s world governing body FIBA where he pens a weekly ‘Women’s Basketball Worldwide Column’ - as well as providing daily content on major club competitions, international tournaments and the women’s youth game. He has an extensive network of contacts across the globe, including an array of elite play-callers and players. Also a qualified coach and referee, he is a big supporter of Blue Star Media and joined as a blogger during the fall of 2016.
