Final Qualifier for Ukraine's Women's Basketball Team
Ukraine's women's national basketball team will play its final EuroBasket 2027 qualifying match on March 17, 2026. The game against Azerbaijan, set for the Baku Sports Hall at 5:00 PM Kyiv time, is a must-win for the Ukrainians to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the next round. The team currently sits third in Group E with a 1-3 record and a -47 point differential. European basketball qualifiers are fiercely competitive, making every match critical for progression.
To secure a spot in the second qualification round, Ukraine needs a specific set of results from other games: Ireland must lose to Israel, and Switzerland must be defeated by Austria. In this first qualification stage, featuring seven groups, the two best group winners and the three best third-place teams will advance.
Ukraine's Men's Team in World Cup Qualifying Action
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian men's national team continues its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. On March 17, 2026, the team suffered a 78:64 defeat to Spain. This followed a previous 86:66 loss to Spain in the third qualifying round. However, the men's squad has shown promise with an 88:71 victory over Denmark in the second round and a 92:79 win against Georgia in their opening World Cup 2027 qualifier.
Player statistics from the Spain vs. Ukraine match were as follows:
- Lukashov: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
- Kovliar: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
- Tkachenko: 4 points, 2 rebounds
- Voinalovych: 12 points, 2 rebounds
- Skapintsev: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
- Lypovyi: 8 points, 5 rebounds
- Bobrov: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
- Zotov: 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
- Pustovyi: 3 points, 4 rebounds
- Tyrtyshnyk: 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
- Shelist: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
- Sushkin: 2 points, 1 assist
In the victorious match against Georgia, Kovliar was the top performer, scoring 31 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Tkachenko added 8 points, Lypovyi scored 13, Bobrov had 11 points and 15 rebounds, Pustovyi contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds, Voinalovych scored 7, Novytskyi had 6 points and 4 rebounds, Sushkin scored 4, Kovalov added 2, and Tyrtyshnyk scored 0.
Both national teams continue their fight for success in their respective qualifying campaigns, aiming for positive results in upcoming fixtures. Success for Ukraine's teams in these high-stakes matches is vital for the sport's development in the nation, inspiring the next generation of athletes. The decisive match against Azerbaijan and future qualifiers are pivotal moments for these squads striving to make their mark on the international stage.
As the Ukrainian women's team gears up for their decisive match, it's worth noting the recent successes of the men's squad in their own qualifying campaign. Their impressive start, highlighted by two victories, has sparked hope among fans. To learn more about how the men's team is performing in the World Cup qualifiers, check out our coverage here.