Bayern cruise past Mainz 3-0 but title celebrations on ice

RIYADH: Jeddah United Club have added another remarkable chapter to their legacy by clinching gold at the Saudi 3x3 Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Held over three days in Madinah, the overall tournament was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Basketball Federation, showcasing the country’s commitment to advancing basketball across all categories.

The event featured three competitive brackets — for men, women and under-18 boys — and drew more than 1,500 spectators, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for the sport.

In the women’s division, six teams competed: Jeddah United, Al-Nassr Club, Al-Qadisiyah Club, NEOM Club, Jeddah Club, and Gym Master Team.

From the opening game to the final, Jeddah United displayed unmatched dominance and tactical finesse.

Jeddah United opened their campaign with a commanding 21–2 victory over Gym Master. They followed with a solid 14–5 win against Al-Qadisiyah in the group stage. In the semifinal, they outpaced Jeddah Club 20–12.

The final proved to be the most intense matchup of the tournament, as they faced a determined Al-Nassr squad. In a tightly contested battle, Jeddah United held their nerve to clinch a thrilling 22–20 victory, sealing the championship without dropping a single game.

The championship squad featured standout performances from Kawthar Khayyat, Fahda Al-Sulaiman, Rand Alnowaiser, and Noura Alkhayyal, all under the direction of team manager Ahmed Amir.

Their synergy, athleticism, and tactical discipline were evident throughout the tournament, setting a high bar for future competitions.

Jeddah United’s triumph was bolstered by strong institutional support, which includes their strategic partnership with the University of Business and Technology and the medical backing of MyClinic.

This latest title adds to Jeddah United’s impressive record. They previously secured back-to-back gold medals at the Saudi Games in 2022 and 2023, followed by a bronze in 2024.

With this 3x3 tournament victory, they continue to affirm their position as pioneers in women’s basketball in Saudi Arabia, inspiring a new generation of female athletes and setting a benchmark for excellence in national and regional competitions.

As the landscape of Saudi sports evolves, Jeddah United’s continued success serves as a powerful symbol of the Kingdom’s growing commitment to women’s participation and achievement in sports.

MINNEAPOLIS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a steely performance befitting the NBA MVP, and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped back from a 42-point loss by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 in Game 4 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Jalen Williams scored 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and Chet Holmgren added 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a statement game in his hometown that helped the Thunder stave off several pushes by the Wolves to tie the series.
Gilgeous-Alexander went 12 for 14 from the free-throw line, making a pair with 6.1 seconds left to stretch the lead back to three. The Thunder fouled Anthony Edwards with 3.5 seconds to go, and his intentional miss of the second one to try to keep possession was tracked down in the corner by Gilgeous-Alexander and flung out of bounds in attempt to drain the clock.
The Wolves had one more inbounds pass with 0.3 seconds remaining that Williams grabbed to send the Thunder back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday with the chance to advance to the NBA Finals.
Edwards was limited to 16 points, and Julius Randle  was also bottled up by the Thunder’s relentless defense led by Luguentz Dort.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker  and Donte DiVincenzo  each went 5 for 8 from 3-point range to lead a second straight onslaught of bench offense to keep the Wolves close all night, but the Thunder always had an answer for the mini-runs they managed. They trailed for only 36 seconds, all stretches in the first quarter.
Any intrigue about how the Thunder would respond to the 143-101 drubbing in Game 3 quickly disappeared when Williams started hitting from deep to lead an 11-for-17 shooting start from the floor.
After shooting just 28 percent from 3-point range over their first six road games in these NBA playoffs, the Thunder went 16 for 37 — straining the Wolves defensively with all the difficulty Gilgeous-Alexander was presenting again following a quiet game on Saturday.
The Thunder, for all their dominance, have shown a hint of vulnerability away from Paycom Center, where they’re 7-1 with a plus-191 scoring differential this postseason.