Ukraine’s U-20 Women’s Youth Team Prepares for European Championship
Ukraine’s U-20 women’s basketball squad is gearing up to compete in the 2026 European Championship Division B, hosted in Samokov, Bulgaria. The team is currently finishing its training camp in Kandava, Latvia, where it has held practice sessions and played four friendly matches against the national teams of Latvia and Lithuania. During the group stage, the Ukrainian side will face the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The top two teams from this four-team group will advance to the second round of the tournament.
Team captain Serafyma Tykha highlighted the strong morale within the squad.
“Most of us have known each other for years—we’ve played together many times before and have been working as this group for several seasons now. Over that time, we’ve learned to trust and support each other no matter what. Right now, everyone is focused on giving their absolute best, and I’m confident each player is ready to give everything for the team and for Ukraine.”She also stressed the value of the friendly matches in testing the team’s character and fine-tuning their preparation for the championship.
Ukraine’s Men’s Team Results
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s men’s national basketball team suffered a defeat against Spain in the fourth round of qualification for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. The match ended 78:64 in favor of the Spanish. In the third round of qualifying, Ukraine also lost to Spain with a score of 86:66. However, in the second round, the team secured a victory over Denmark with a score of 88:71. In their first World Cup qualifier, Ukraine defeated Georgia 92:79.
- Loss to Spain: 78:64
- Loss to Spain: 86:66
- Win over Denmark: 88:71
- Win over Georgia: 92:79
The top scorer in the match against Georgia was Oleksandr Kovliar, who recorded 31 points in 37 minutes of play.
These developments show contrasting fortunes for Ukrainian basketball on the international stage. The women’s youth team is preparing for a major tournament, while the men’s squad is working to improve its performance in World Cup qualifying.
These events underscore the importance of developing youth basketball in Ukraine, where young athletes get the chance to compete at the European level and gain valuable experience. At the same time, the men’s team results highlight the need to refine strategy and adapt in order to achieve stronger outcomes in qualifying competitions. Together, they reflect both the promise and the challenges facing Ukrainian basketball as a whole.
As the U-20 Women's National Team prepares for their upcoming matches, it's worth noting that Ukraine's 3x3 basketball team has also been busy, recently announcing their roster for the Euro 2026 qualifiers. This commitment across various teams highlights the growing talent and dedication within Ukrainian basketball. For more details on their squad and preparation, visit Ukraine's 3x3 basketball team.