3X3

Jun 05 2025

Ireland 'hungry' ahead of FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup qualifier, says Dwyer

Ireland are ‘hungry for wins’ ahead of this weekend’s FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup qualifier in Kosovo, according to Grainne Dwyer.

The winner of the event in Prishtina will book their place alongside some of the top European powerhouses at the finals in Copenhagen in September.

Dwyer, Maura Fitzpatrick, Erin Maguire and Lynn Tunnah enter the court on Saturday evening with two FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Series stops under their belt and experience against Canada and the USA to draw from, as they take on Cyprus (18:20) and Malta (19:35) in the group phase.

“⁠It’s been an amazing opportunity for us to join the FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Series for a second summer in a row,” said Dwyer. “It’s extremely challenging playing teams such as Canada, who are ranked number three in the world, or the USA - who have some of the top college athletes and WNBA prospects in their programme – but this is the level that Irish women’s basketball deserves to be at.”

“Each week is a great opportunity to see how they read and play the game. Just being around really elite players gives everyone on the programme an insight into what it takes to be at that top, top level,” added Dwyer. “As a group we are still learning and growing at every stop (on the FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Series), getting to know one another as players and also adjusting from the 5x5 game that we are playing throughout the year.”

Claire O’Sullivan will miss the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup qualifier due to an injury picked up at the last FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Series stop in Marseille, but Erin Maguire returns in her place having been absent in France.

Despite remaining winless against Canada, USA, Puerto Rico and Spanish side Madrid – opponents of that calibre won’t be at the event in Kosovo and there is confidence within the group that this is a good chance to capitalise on the learnings of the last few weeks.

Ireland prepared for the competition in Belfast with competitive games against Lithuania, Great Britain and Wales in recent days. It also offered an opportunity to link in with the Ireland U23 squad which will compete in the FIBA U23 Nations League later this year.

Familiar opponents for both our sides on Saturday night!

Details on how to watch will be available on the Basketball Ireland website 🎥#IrishBasketball | #Greenmeansgo ☘️ pic.twitter.com/YN9Ary5yP1
— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) June 3, 2025

“I definitely think we have improved from game-to-game. Even during the training camp in Belfast – all the sessions and games, everyone in the programme, including the U23 girls are working together and improving with each one and that has been a great preparation.”

Ireland have reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the qualifiers in the last two years, but going a couple of steps further will see the team join the likes of France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Serbia who have already booked their place in the finals weekend in Denmark.

“We started much earlier this year and have played a lot more competitive games prior to the qualifiers this year. Although we haven’t picked up a win so far, it’s made us extremely hungry to go out and correct that this weekend. We have been a 3x3 bubble the last couple of weeks so hopefully oh will stand to us,” concluded Dwyer.

The 3x3 men's programme will also play in the qualifier - you can learn more about their schedule here.