Ukraine's Women's Basketball Team Falls to Montenegro, Drops to Third in Group

Ukraine's Women's Basketball Team Suffers Defeat

According to Главком: Ukraine's women's national basketball team was defeated by Montenegro in a qualifying match for the 2027 European Championship. The game, held in Riga on March 11, 2026, ended with a score of 61:79 in favor of Montenegro. This loss caused the Ukrainian team to fall from second to third place in their qualifying group. The European Championship qualifiers are a crucial step for teams aiming to compete on the continent's biggest stage.

Match Progression and Player Stats

The match saw fluctuating performances from Ukraine across the four quarters. They lost the first quarter 21:28 but bounced back to win the second 17:10. However, they conceded the third quarter 15:18. Montenegro dominated the final period, outscoring Ukraine 23:8 to secure a decisive victory.

Alina Yagupova was Ukraine's standout performer, scoring 31 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Contributions from other Ukrainian players included:

• Alexeychik: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists
• Filevich: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
• Uro-Nile: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
• Yurkevichus: 2 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist

The Ukrainian team now looks ahead to its next qualifying fixtures. They are scheduled to face Bulgaria in Plovdiv on March 14, 2026, at 19:00, followed by a match against Azerbaijan in Baku on March 17, 2026, at 17:00. These upcoming games present an immediate opportunity for the team to recover and improve their standing in the group.

This defeat marks a significant setback in Ukraine's qualification campaign, leaving them with limited time to regain ground. Facing strong opponents, the team must capitalize on the remaining matches to get back on a winning track and secure their place at EuroBasket Women 2027. Success in these final games will be critical for their chances of advancing to the tournament proper.