GB competed in their inaugural FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series as a professional team in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan, this week.

GB formed a professional 3x3 side to compete in FIBA’s top club-based competitions, earning ranking points to help the national federation qualify for the elite 3x3 international tournaments.

The Women’s Series also provided a fantastic opportunity for GB’s best players to play together at the highest level, developing their relationship as a team unit and becoming more comfortable with the 3x3 game.

Head Coach Krumesh Patel took a strong side of players both well versed in 3x3 basketball and entirely new to the sport, determined to win their qualification matches and progress to the Pool Stage of the competition.

The squad available to Patel at the tournament was as follows:

Samantha Ashby - Oaklands Wolves

Hannah Jump - IDK Eukostren San Sebastián (Spain)

Claire Paxton - Essex Rebels

Georgia Gayle - Sheffield Hatters

Nina Rickards - AEL Limassol B.C.

Cheridene Green - Unattached

As a newly formed team without a top rank, GB were required to play, and win, two qualification matches to progress to the Pool Stage of the main competition.

Qualifying Draw: Takasaki VS Great Britain

They opened the tournament against Japanese side Takasaki at 9:25 am (BST) on 26 July

GB 5x5 young star Sam Ashby got off to a fast start, diving to the basket for a reverse layup off the nice feed from Hannah Jump. Immediately after, Ashby ripped through and attacked the basket, stopping on a dime, showing off her impressive footwork to shake her defender and knock down her second shot in as many tries.

Claire Paxton added to the strong early drive with a tenacious move in the paint, resulting in a layup off the glass.

Takasaki stayed close through some nice passing and scoring from Fuyuko Takahashi, before Paxton splashed in a two-pointer, quickly followed by a spinning shot by Georgina Gayle to put GB up 4-7.

Gayle scored four points in a row for GB, using her physicality and quality footwork to create open looks. Takasaki, on the other side, maintained their scoring form through Takahashi’s shooting and free throws conceded by GB.

With two minutes to go, the fouls racked up for GB, keeping a steady diet of free throws for the Japanese side and giving them the 16-14 lead.

With the game on the line, GB responded. Gayle fought her way to the charity stripe, knocking down both of her foul shots, before Paxton hit back-to-back twos, catapulting GB to a 16-20 lead.

GB suffered a close call when Renzhu Li scored three points in quick succession, but held on to win the match.

Final Score: Takasaki 19 / Great Britain 20

Madagascar VS Great Britain

GB’s second Qualifying Draw match was against Madagascar at 10:15 am (BST).

Ashby again kicked things off for GB, splashing in a three on her first shot and adding a free throw soon after.

After some opportunistic play from Paxton and Gayle, Gayle knocked down a catch-and-shoot three from far beyond the arc, taking GB’s lead to 1-7.

GB maintained their intensity throughout, with Ashby and Gayle forming a dynamic partnership and buoying GB with their scoring. Paxton contributed some two-point sniping, and Gayle completed the match with accurate free-throw shooting to see out the game.

With that victory, GB secured qualification to the Pool Stage of the Women’s Series.

Final Score: Madagascar 10 / Great Britain 20

See below to watch GB’s full Qualifying Draw campaign

Pool Stage: Latvia VS Great Britain

Winning their qualification draw, GB qualified for Pool D of the Sumqayit Women’s Series, alongside Latvia and CS Rapid, Bucharest.

GB first took on Latvia at 1:00 pm (BST). Latvia are a top-ranked 3x3 nation and won the Women’s Series in Baku back in May.

This was a tough match for a GB side fairly new to the 3x3 game, competing against a well-experienced and talented Latvia team.

Latvia started quickly, with Marta Miščenko scoring twice in quick succession, before Digna Strautmane added a two-pointer. GB pushed back through Ashby and Gayle, but ultimately were overcome by a prolific team.

Final Score: Latvia 19 / Great Britain 3

CS Rapid VS Great Britain

GB’s final game of the series came against CS Rapid of Bucharest, Romania.

The match began at pace, with both sides scoring at will. Jump and Ashby started well, getting to the basket with blistering drives.

Jump’s aggressive attacks continued to hurt CS Rapid as she displayed a quick first step and technique on the run.

However, after GB took an early 2-5 lead, CS Rapid pushed back hard, with a run capped off by a Natalie Kucowski two-point shot, putting CS Rapid up 7-5.

Jump’s fine form sustained, as she splashed in a long range two. This helped to ignite Ashby, who bounced off a Jump screen to hit a step-back two, and then came again with another leaning two-point shot.

The game swung back in CS Rapid’s favour, who went on a five-point run to take the 15-10 lead.

Ashby and Paxton’s hot shooting brought GB within touching distance, but they were unable to bridge the game, and were defeated in their second and final pool match of the Women’s Series.

Final Score: CS Rapid 20 / Great Britain 17

See below to watch GB’s Pool Stage matches in full:

Although GB failed to qualify from their pool, they gained invaluable experience at the highest level of 3x3 basketball, building team cohesion and attaining ranking points for the national federation.