Important events in Ukrainian basketball on January 4, 2023
January 4, 2023 was marked by significant events for Ukrainian basketball. The women's national team of Ukraine did not play on this day, but three Ukrainians participated in NCAA matches. At the same time, the men's national team of Ukraine achieved victory over Denmark in the qualifying match for the FIBA World Cup 2027.
NCAA Match Results
In the NCAA, the LSU Tigers team suffered a defeat against Vanderbilt with a score of 61:65. Ukrainian basketball player Kateryna Koval spent a significant amount of time on the court, scoring 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, but also received 4 fouls and made 2 turnovers. In the matchup between Louisville and Virginia Tech, which ended with a score of 85:60 in favor of Louisville, Yevheniya Putra played 8 minutes, not making any shots, but collecting 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, and 3 fouls. Ohio State also celebrated a victory, defeating Rutgers 71:49, where Ukrainian Dasha Biryuk spent 2 minutes, not scoring, but receiving 1 rebound. Virginia Rams lost to George Mason with a score of 58:68, and Tetiana Tkachenko, who participated in this match, scored 3 points and received 1 foul.
As for the men's national team of Ukraine, they demonstrated a powerful game, achieving victory over Denmark with a score of 88:71. The top scorer of the match was Oleksandr Kovlyar, who scored 31 points. The next qualifying window will take place in February 2026. In another match that occurred on the same day, Georgia lost to Ukraine with a score of 79:92.
Thus, January 4 became a significant day for Ukrainian basketball, celebrating the achievements of both the women's and men's national teams.
These events highlight the activity of Ukrainian athletes on the international stage, particularly in the NCAA, where Ukrainian basketball players continue to showcase their skills, despite the team's results. The men's team, achieving victory in the qualifiers, confirms its potential in the fight for a place on the world stage. These achievements can be important for the development of basketball in Ukraine and increasing interest in this sport among the youth.