International

Jun 16 2024

Ireland compete in first FIBA 3x3 Women's World Series tournament

Ireland's 3x3 women's team put in a good display following a difficult draw in their first FIBA 3x3 Women's World Series event in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Ireland were drawn in Pool B alongside Paris Olympics favourites France, who are ranked 2nd in the world and hosts Clermont-Ferrand.

Enya Maguire, Gráinne Dwyer, Áine Ó'Connor and Lynn Tunnah competed for Ireland, with Claire Melia pulling out late due to injury in the previous week's tournament in Kosovo.

First up for Ireland was the French, who would eventually go on to win the competition. A competitive start saw us keep pace in the opening exchanges of our first ever FIBA 3x3 Women's World Series contest, with Enya Maguire nabbing our maiden points in the worldwide tour, before it proved to be too big of a challenge with the opposition running out 21-8 winners.

"It's very tough, it's not the standard we're used to playing but we had a great first few minutes so as long as we build on that and begin to reciprocate the strength that they showed then I think we'll put ourselves in a good position in futher tournaments"

- Enya Maguire

Our first ever @FIBA3x3 Women’s World Series points ✅

Tunnah ➡️ Maguire #Greenmeansgo ☘️ | #3x3WS | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/XUhteIvdM1
— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) June 14, 2024

Ireland then took on hosts, Clermont-Ferrand, who boasted Victor Wembanyama's sister, Eve in their ranks. Again Ireland started brightly and managed to keep up that pace for the majority of their second contest. It was again to prove a bridge too far on our first outing and Ireland move on to stop two in Orleáns, France in search of a debut win.

"It was a good experience, we had two really tough opponents, I feel like we held our own, we know what we need to work on to have a good summer. It was difficult [playing against France and Clermont-Ferrand] but we need that experience."

- Lynn Tunnah