Wombats Named For World Champs
Australia’s 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball World Champs team heads to the Inaugural Tournament in South Africa.
MEDIA RELEASE:
Basketball Australia is pleased to announce the athletes selected to attend the 2025 IWBF 3x3 World Championship, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1-3 August.
Hosted by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the tournament marks the first ever 3x3 World Cup for wheelchair basketball and will feature 23 teams from around the globe, with 15 men’s teams and 8 women’s competing for the title.
Australia will represent in both men’s and women’s divisions, with strong lineups and high hopes heading into the tournament.
Head Coach Rob Pike believes both squads are well positioned to make a deep run.
“The women are a good quality, well balanced unit, everyone is a threat,” said Pike.
“The goal for them is to come together as a team and work on specific skills that will make us really competitive against all opponents.”
In the women’s draw, Australia will compete in Pool A with South Africa, Great Britain and Switzerland.
“Great Britain have multiple Paralympians in their lineup, and they’re a good team, but I think we match up well against them. The Swiss are the dark horse, and South Africa as the host nation will bring passion. We’re ready for it.”
The top performers from the men’s pool will advance to the knockout rounds, while the top two women’s teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Pike said last month’s Asia Oceania Cup proved to be vital preparation.
“The Asia Oceania Cup gave us a taste of what international 3x3 basketball looks like, the intensity, the speed, the aggression. We are better for it.”
As excitement builds for the World Championship, Pike is confident that both Australian teams will be ready to rise to the challenge.
“We are excited to be playing in the first ever 3x3 wheelchair basketball World Cup. I believe we have two very good, exciting teams - teams that Australia should get behind and follow, you won’t be disappointed.”