Ukraine Basketball National Teams in Qualifying Action
On March 11, 2026, the Ukrainian women's national basketball team played a EuroBasket 2027 qualification match against Montenegro in Riga, Latvia. Under the guidance of head coach Yevhen Murzin, the Ukrainian squad named a 12-player roster featuring three debutants: Serafima Tikha, Yuliia Hutevych, and Polina Tupalo. Notably, Karina Panchuk and Anastasiia Kovtun were not included in the selection.
The first encounter between Ukraine and Montenegro concluded with a 71:65 victory for the Ukrainian side. This win marks a significant step forward in their campaign to qualify for EuroBasket 2027, providing a crucial boost in a competitive group stage.
Ukraine's Men's National Team and Their Results
Simultaneously, the Ukrainian men's national team continues its campaign in the qualification rounds for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. In their fourth-round game, the team suffered a 78:64 defeat to Spain. Previously, in the third round, the men's squad also lost to Spain, but by a larger margin of 66:86. However, they secured an 88:71 victory over Denmark in the second round and began their qualification run with a 79:92 win against Georgia.
The top scorer in the match against Georgia was Oleksandr Kovliar, who contributed 31 points in 37 minutes. Other notable performers in that game included:
- Oleksandr Lypovyi, who scored 13 points;
- Viacheslav Bobrov, who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
In the match against Spain, the statistics for key players on the men's team were as follows:
- Lukashov: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists;
- Kovliar: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists;
- Tkachenko: 4 points, 2 rebounds;
- Lypovyi: 8 points, 5 rebounds.
Thus, the results of both national teams highlight both the successes and the challenges they face on the international stage.
The Ukrainian women's team's victory over Montenegro signals positive development on their path to EuroBasket 2027, which could bolster team morale and reinforce confidence for the matches ahead.
Meanwhile, the men's national team must overcome the difficulties encountered in these qualifiers to improve its chances of success in future competitions. Both squads continue to work on refining their skills and strategy, a vital component in the landscape of highly competitive international basketball.