Basketball Australia’s squad for the 2025 IWBF 3×3 World Championship has been announced, with all teams ready to take on the world’s best.
Hosted by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the tournament will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1-3 August and marks the first ever 3×3 World Cup for wheelchair basketball. It 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 men’s competition, Australia has been drawn into Pool B alongside Portugal, United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Canada.
“The core of the men’s team comes from our Commonwealth Games gold medal winning squad, with the addition of Tomas Klein,” Pike said.
“It’s a mid-point lineup where everyone is interchangeable. That’s the strength of this team; there are no weak links. Canada and Portugal are dangerous, but with 3×3, every team can be tough and we’re don’t want to take any team lightly.”
In the women’s draw, Australia will compete in Pool A with South Africa, Great Britain and Switzerland.
“Great Britain has 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,” Pike said.
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 3×3 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 3×3 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.”
The squads are:
| Women Hannah Dodd Georgia Munro-Cook Taishar Ovens Ebony Stevenson Maryanne Latu (Travelling Reserve) | Men Lachlin Dalton Jake Kavanagh Tomas Klein Luke Pople Kane Downie (Travelling Reserve) |