RISE 3×3 City League Launches in Cardiff This April

• Cardiff joins the UK’s first 3×3 basketball league this April, alongside London and Manchester, launched in partnership with Basketball Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
• Local teams compete for major prizes and a pathway to the professional FIBA 3×3 World Tour.
• 3×3 basketball is booming in Wales, attracting young athletes and diverse communities to a fast-paced, modern version of the game.

RISE 3×3 Basketball, one of the UK’s fastest-growing basketball organisations and the only independent provider of 3×3 opportunities year-round, announced today that the RISE 3×3 City League is expanding into Cardiff, with team registration now open.

3×3 basketball, an Olympic sport since the Tokyo Games and part of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is one of the fastest-growing formats of basketball globally. 

The UK’s first 3×3 league – endorsed by FIBA 3×3, the global governing body running the professional circuit and Olympic Games events – will launch in Cardiff, London and Manchester this April.

RISE 3×3 has partnered with Basketball Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan University to provide hundreds of local players with opportunities to access the game and compete at a high level. 

The announcement comes as basketball sees rapid growth across the UK, with the NBA recently highlighting the UK as a potential host for its upcoming NBA Europe league. Ernst & Young’s UK Sports Engagement report (Dec 2025) ranked basketball as a “standout” among other sports, climbing seven places in engagement overall and reaching 6th among Gen-Z adults (18–24), driven by content creation and in-person attendance.

The growth of 3×3 reflects a wider shift in how basketball is played and consumed. With shorter games, outdoor courts, and strong links to urban culture, the fast-paced format has rapidly gained popularity among younger audiences. Players in Cardiff and surrounding areas now have a clear pathway to compete locally while building connections with the national and international 3×3 basketball community.

The League offers a gateway to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour – the highest level of professional 3×3 basketball. Top teams from the league in Cardiff will compete in a London championship at the end of May for major prizes, including a free spot in the UK’s only professional 3×3 tournament, the RISE 3×3 Summer Slam, which can lead to elite FIBA 3×3 events in Europe. 

Teams can win over £600 in retail vouchers and free basketball shoes thanks to official partner Pro: Direct Basketball, plus free customised kits from Sixth Man Basketball. Team registration is open for a limited time: www.rise3x3.com/cityleague2026

Martin Dyan, Founder & CEO, RISE 3×3 Basketball, said:

“It has taken several months of planning, and I’m incredibly thankful for our partners in Wales. They really understand how exciting this is and how the RISE 3×3 City League is creating opportunities for everyone – from players and officials to content creators and local brands alike.  Wales has some amazing players, and they are all getting a chance to be part of something special and do what they love, and that’s how we all rise together. 

Expanding the League is very exciting – 3×3 basketball is a fast-paced, modern version of the game, and its popularity is growing massively. We’re creating a new pathway, from grassroots all the way to elite competition.”

Ryan Chambers, Head of Performance & Coaching Pathways, Basketball Wales, said:

“3×3 is an important part of the performance strategy for Basketball Wales. We are delighted to be partnering with Rise and Cardiff Met Archers to give players more opportunities to play regularly in a strong, well-structured environment.

With 3×3 also included in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026, it helps shine a light on the format and promotes the game further across Wales. The 3×3 game adds a fantastic dimension to player development, requiring a fast, instinctive style of basketball that challenges players in new ways.”

Sarah Wagstaff, Head of Basketball, Cardiff Metropolitan University, said:

“We have some of the best facilities in the country here at Cardiff Met, and I can’t wait to see players from all over competing on the same floor as our Cardiff Archers. 3×3 is such an exciting version of the game; each evening of basketball is going to have such a buzz about it.”

Some players in the RISE 3×3 City League have been scouted to play at the elite level – three players have since gone on to represent Great Britain’s 3×3 teams, including Toto Fagbenle, Hafeez Abdul and Ty Nsangu.

Much like padel, rugby 7s, or five-a-side football, 3×3 is a modern, dynamic, short-form version of traditional 5v5 basketball. The main Cardiff venue will be Archers Arena at Cardiff Metropolitan University,, with the Finals taking place in London at the end of May.