Every level of Basketball Australia’s pathway will compete in an international tournament from June to August with World Championships and Asia / Oceania Cups with qualification on the line.
“It’s going to be an action-packed period for our senior & junior national programs with competition across three continents,” said Jason Smith, EGM of High Performance.
“There’s an amazing level of talent and diversity across the athletes competing over the coming months and opportunities to medal across the board,”
“The variability of age group, team & format demonstrates how competitive Australia is in the game right now and we look forward to testing that against the rest.”
COMING UP
IWBF U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
U23 SPINNERS – WHEELCHAIR MEN
First up is the U23 Spinners men’s team, travelling to Brazil for the IWBF World Champs. The team featuring Paris Paralympians Eithen Leard & Jaylen Brown will kick off their campaign on Thursday versus Germany.
VIRTUS WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
PEARLS & BOOMERANGS – PWID MEN & WOMEN
Australia’s PWID teams the Pearls & Boomerangs are in Astana, Kazahkstan for the VIRTUS World Championships. Australia’s Pearls sent two dominant teams to the last global meet in Italy 2017 claiming gold & silver. The Boomerangs men claimed bronze in the same tournament.
IWBF 2025 3x3 ASIA-OCEANIA CUP
3x3 WOMBATS W/C – MEN & WOMEN
There are three representative teams for 3x3 Wombats wheelchair competing at the 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania Cup in China from June 19 – 23. It will be formative step to develop players with 3x3 wheelchair basketball included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
FIBA 3x3 WORLD CUPS
3x3 GANGURRUS – MEN & WOMEN
The focus shifts to the 3x3 Gangurrus and their World Cup conquest in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The women’s and men’s teams play in the group phase from 23 – 26 June.
Australia has been a bolter in the 3x3 format with repeat Asia Cup championships and the Gangurrus women’s historic trip to Paris for the Olympics in 2024. The highest the women have finished at a world meet was bronze, in Vienna 2023 & Athens 2012. The men are yet to medal but will be looking to change that.
FIBA U19 WORLD CUPS
U19 EMUS
All eyes will turn to the FIBA heartland of Lausanne, Switzerland for the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup with Rocco Zikarsky and the Australian U19 Emus starting their campaign with a blockbuster versus the USA on Sunday 29 June 2025.
“The Under 19 World Cup features numerous players that are either pros in elite professional competition or about to be," said Robbie McKinlay, Head Coach U19 Emus.
The teams have depth, size and versatility and in our pool, our three opponents are prime examples of that. It will be a physical style of basketball."
“The best players at his level execute under pressure and can sustain their skill level against the physical style of play. Our team has the tools and athletes to compete with the best in this area."
U19 GEMS
The U19 Gems women take on the world next in Czechia from 12 – 20 July for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup. The Gems have historically starred at the global meet and will take a team with generational talent & grit.
“Everyone has a role to play and brings something unique to the group. We’re clear on the level we’re stepping into and there’s no room to ease in. We need to arrive with purpose, compete with confidence, and stay connected under pressure,” said Renae Garlepp, Head Coach - U19 Gems.
FIBA ASIA CUPS
A monumental run of tournaments concludes with the FIBA 2025 Asia Cups with the Seven Consulting Opals travelling to Shenzhen, China from 13 – 20 July. Paul Goriss will take the reigns as Associate Head Coach in the first major step in a new era of Opals basketball.
The Opals team named for Shenzhen last month is spearheaded by veteran & Olympian Cayla George and a cast of rising stars.
The Boomers will lock horns with Asia’s best shortly after in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia from 5 – 17 August. Australia’s men have won gold in every meet since their integration into FIBA Asia and will aim to continue their unbeaten run with a third straight title.
IWBF Tournaments will be broadcast via live stream via IWBF’s YouTube channel.
ESPN Australia / New Zealand will stream / broadcast all FIBA Tournaments via Disney or Kayo platforms.
