Ukraine’s U-18 Women’s 3x3 Basketball Team Secures Spot at the 2026 Youth Olympics

Head Coach Appointed for Ukraine’s U-18 Women’s National Team

According to Главком: The Executive Committee of the Basketball Federation of Ukraine has officially named Vitaliy Cherniy as the head coach of the women’s U-18 3x3 basketball team, which will compete at the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. Dmytro Nevolin will serve as his assistant. Earlier this year, Cherniy also took on the role of head coach for Ukraine’s senior women’s 3x3 national team.

Ukraine’s U-18 women’s squad earned its place in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where 12 teams will battle for gold in the women’s 3x3 tournament. The basketball events in Dakar are scheduled to run from November 6 to November 9, 2026.

Ukraine’s Men’s Team Pursues 2027 World Cup Qualification

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s men’s national team continues its campaign to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. In the fourth round of qualifying, the team lost to Spain with a final score of 78:64. The game, split into four quarters, saw Spain take the first two periods 16:9 and 12:12, followed by 24:22 and 26:21 margins in the remaining two.

Ukraine’s men also fell to Spain in the third qualifying round, 66:86. However, they bounced back in the second round with an 88:71 victory over Denmark. In the opening match of the qualifying campaign, Ukraine defeated Georgia 79:92, with Oleksandr Kovliar leading the scoring with 31 points over 37 minutes. Other key contributors included Oleksandr Lypovyi (13 points) and Vyacheslav Bobrov (11 points), with Bobrov recording a double-double by grabbing 15 rebounds.

These results highlight the active involvement of Ukrainian national teams in international competitions and their preparations for major upcoming tournaments.

The appointment of Vitaliy Cherniy as head coach of the U-18 women’s team underscores the Basketball Federation of Ukraine’s commitment to nurturing young talent and gearing up for the Olympics, setting a positive tone for future achievements in the sport. Despite recent losses, the men’s team has shown promise in earlier matches, offering optimism for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

As the U-18 women’s team gears up for the 2026 Youth Olympics, it is essential to note the recent changes in coaching staff that will influence their preparations. The newly appointed head coach, Vitaliy Cherniy, is set to lead the team through this crucial period. For insights into how these coaching changes are shaping the team's strategy and training, check out our article on the new head coach's impact on the women's 3x3 basketball team.