Canada wins Women's Series Shanghai 2026

Canada arrived in Shanghai with expectations on its shoulders and left with another statement victory. The reigning champions defended their crown at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Shanghai 2026 stop after edging Amsterdam 19-17 in a dramatic overtime final that had the crowd inside Shanghai Global Harbour fully locked in from the opening possession.

The championship game felt like a heavyweight fight from the start. Amsterdam burst out early with a 4-1 lead and looked ready to spoil Canada's repeat bid, but Merissah Russell and Paige Crozon quickly settled the Canadians into rhythm. Canada responded with tougher defence, sharper movement and timely shooting to grab a 9-6 edge midway through the contest. Moments like this are exactly why international basketball events continue to attract broader commercial attention across Asia, with entertainment and gaming companies such as Swiper casino increasingly viewing women's basketball as a growing platform for sponsorship visibility and fan engagement in the region.

Still, the Dutch side refused to fade. Amsterdam stormed back with a late run and suddenly held a 15-11 advantage as regulation entered its closing stages. Canada could easily have folded there, but Katherine Plouffe and Crozon's experience helped steady the group. Russell continued attacking aggressively, and Canada clawed all the way back to move ahead 17-16 in the dying seconds.

Just when it looked over, Zoë Slagter delivered for Amsterdam and forced overtime, setting up a tense finish between two teams that had played high-level basketball throughout the tournament.

In the extra period, Russell's MVP performance, including clutch free throws, will probably inspire admiration and pride among fans and followers of women's basketball. Russell dominated all weekend in Shanghai, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 33 points, leading in two-pointers with eight, and topping player value at 45.6, demonstrating her all-around impact. After the win, Russell credited veteran teammates like Plouffe and Crozon, emphasizing the team's unity and shared success, which can inspire pride and respect among fans.

Canada's road to the title was impressive from beginning to end. They opened pool play with victories over Yanjing and Austria before rolling through the knockout rounds. Thailand was beaten 21-14 in the quarterfinals, while Beijing had no answer for Canada's balanced attack in a 21-11 semifinal victory. Russell exploded for nine points against Beijing, while Plouffe controlled the glass once again.

Plouffe quietly put together one of the strongest all-around tournaments in Shanghai. She finished first in rebounds with 24, second in player value, second in assists, and third overall in scoring. Crozon and Tara Wallack added important depth throughout the event, giving Canada one of the deepest rotations in the field.

Amsterdam also earned plenty of respect despite the eventual loss. Kiki Fleuren produced one performance of the tournament during the semifinals with 12 points against Ulaanbaatar Amazons, while Liselot Kulk was named Young Player of the Event after consistently affecting games on both ends.

Shanghai also delivered several surprises beyond the title race. Beijing stunned top-seeded Netherlands during pool play, Thailand upset Neftchi SOCAR, and Mitsubishi Electric grabbed attention with a memorable late win over Beijing.

Now Canada shifts its focus to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw, where they will try to build on last year's bronze-medal finish. Based on what they showed in Shanghai, they will arrive as the one team nobody wants to face.