Mitsubishi Electric Koalas Squad To Take On The World In Women’s 3×3 Basketball

Mitsubishi Electric is making a major move into global women’s basketball, announcing it will join the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series from the 2026 season as the first-ever Japanese company to participate in the competition. The step positions the brand at the heart of one of the fastest-growing formats in the sport while elevating its visibility on the international stage.

Mitsubishi Electric enters elite 3×3 stage

Starting in 2026, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) will field a commercial team in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series, the top professional 3×3 women’s basketball competition organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). This is the first time a Japanese company has joined the series, marking a milestone for both the brand and the country’s corporate presence in women’s basketball.​

Launched in 2019, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series brings together national squads and corporate-sponsored teams, with the 2026 season set to run across multiple countries from May to September. The top eight teams will advance to the Shanghai Final in September, where they will compete for the series championship.​

How the commercial team model works

The series includes teams formed by corporations and other organizations specifically for participation, sponsorship, and branding. These commercial teams typically feature visible logo placement at game venues and across the competition website, giving brands built-in exposure to a global audience of fans and federations.

They also receive additional benefits versus traditional federation teams, such as guaranteed match appearances and more relaxed nationality requirements for players. That flexibility allows companies like Mitsubishi Electric to build competitive, strategically assembled rosters while still aligning with the sport’s development goals.

From the Koalas to 3×3

To compete, Mitsubishi Electric will select players from its existing five-on-five women’s basketball team, the Mitsubishi Electric Koalas. These athletes will form a new commercial team named “Mitsubishi Electric”, which will play in the 3×3 series as an official partner of the company.​

This move gives Koalas players a new pathway into the global 3×3 circuit while leveraging the club’s existing culture, coaching, and infrastructure. It also signals that Mitsubishi Electric is shifting from traditional sponsorship to active team ownership and direct participation at the highest level of the format.

Advancing women’s basketball in Japan and beyond

Through its entry into the series, Mitsubishi Electric aims to promote women’s basketball, including 3×3, in Japan and internationally. The company states that it wants its involvement to help develop new players and contribute to the sport’s growth worldwide.​

By combining brand investment with talent development, Mitsubishi Electric is aligning its corporate identity with opportunity and advancement in women’s sport. The move reflects a broader shift in which major companies are using sport—especially fast-growing formats like 3×3—as platforms for gender equity, youth engagement, and global storytelling.