Bronze for Ukraine's Female Basketball Team in France; Men's Squad Defeats Georgia

International Girls' Basketball Tournament

According to Главком: From May 22 to May 26, 2026, the French town of Saint-Romain-le-Puy hosted an international basketball tournament for girls born in 2013. A total of 12 teams from countries including Mexico, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, France, and Ukraine took part. Representing Ukraine was the Vedmedi (Bears) team from Novovolynsk, the reigning champions in their age group within the Ukrainian Youth Basketball League (VYBL). The squad is coached by Hanna Makarchuk.

Vedmedi secured third place overall, claiming the bronze medal after defeating Hungary in the third-place match. Earlier, the Ukrainian side had lost to Mexico in the semifinal, missing out on a chance to compete for the gold. Still, the victory in the consolation game ensured they finished the tournament with a medal around their necks.

VYBL Championship in Ukraine and Men's National Team Results

Back in Ukraine, the VYBL girls' championship for the 2013 birth year is underway, where Vedmedi have swept all seven games in the regular season. This coming weekend, Novovolynsk will host the VYBL Final Four in this age category, giving local fans a chance to cheer on their team.

On the men's side, Ukraine's national team played crucial matches in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. In the fourth round, they fell to Spain 78:64, with quarter scores of 16:9, 12:12, 24:22, and 26:21. Earlier, in the third round, they also lost to Spain 86:66. However, in the second round, they bounced back with an 88:71 win over Denmark, and they opened the qualifiers with a 92:79 victory against Georgia.

Oleksandr Kovliar scored 31 points, Oleksandr Lypovyi added 13, and Viacheslav Bobrov recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

These results highlight Ukraine's growing competitiveness on the international basketball stage, both in women's and men's categories. The young Vedmedi team's success underscores the development of youth basketball in the country, while the men's national team's performance points to areas needing improvement as they gear up for future global competitions. Such tournaments serve as vital stepping stones for athletes preparing for tougher challenges ahead.

As Ukraine's young athletes continue to shine on the international stage, the recent achievements of the U18 3x3 basketball team further underscore the nation's rising talent in the sport. Their qualification for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games reflects a strong commitment to developing future stars, adding to the excitement surrounding Ukrainian basketball.