Uganda women's 3x3 basketball team sweeps opening day at Commonwealth Games
The 3x3 basketball game is played on a half-court with just one basket and a ball designed specifically for 3x3.
PHOTO: Nicholas Bamulanzeki
Uganda's 3x3 women's basketball team got off to a strong start at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning all their three opening matches on the first day of competition against Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Kenya on Friday.
Making their debut at the Games, coach Nick Natuhereza's charges, comprising Melissa Akullo, Jane Asinde, Jamila Nansikombi, and Perus Nyamwenge, dug deep into their skills, experience, and resilience reserves to win their opening tie against Jamaica in overtime, edging their opponents by a point, 18-17, at the SEC Hall in Glasgow.
The Ugandans then saw off the Cayman Islands 21-7 before they easily decimated Kenya 21-5.
Against Jamaica, Asinde led the scoring with 7 points. She shot 4 of 9 from the paint and 3 of 5 free throw attempts and picked up 7 rebounds to get Uganda on course. Akullu and Nansikombi added 5 and 4 rebounds, respectively, and despite being out-rebounded 30-20 and tying the game 16-16 at the regular time buzzer, Nansikombi's free throw finally got Nick Natuhereza's Gazelles over the line.
The Ugandans were due to face Fiji and Australia on Sunday.
The 3x3 basketball game is played on a half-court with just one basket and a ball designed specifically for 3x3. Each team is made up of three players, plus one substitute. With just one hoop present, there's no concept of attacking or defending halves for the teams.
The game starts with a coin toss, and the winner gets to choose whether to begin the game as the offensive team or the defensive team. Possession switches between teams after every made basket, be it a successful field goal or an unsuccessful attempt. The defensive team can also win possession via a steal, block, or defensive rebound.
Players have just 12 seconds on the shot clock instead of the 24 permitted in full-court basketball. Shots scored from inside the arc-shaped scoring zone are worth one point, while shots taken from behind the arc area put two on the board.
Substitutions can be made when the ball becomes dead, and the game clock is stopped. There are no breaks, no quarters, and no half-time—it's one fast game.
The first team to score 21 points wins. If no team has reached 21 after 10 minutes, the team in the lead takes the win. If the scores are level, it goes to overtime, where the first team to score two points secures victory.
Selected Day 1 results
Uganda 18 Jamaica 17
Uganda 21 Cayman Islands 7
Uganda 21 Kenya 5
Cayman Islands 5 Jamaica 21
Australia 10 Fiji 3