- Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning head coach Julius Joseph and emerging coaching talent Sarah Hopkins-Chery will lead England’s respective men’s and women’s 3x3 Basketball teams at Glasgow 2026
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 29.12.2025) :: The sport made a Commonwealth debut at the last edition of the Games, with England’s claiming the historic first-ever 3x3 Basketball title, while England’s women finished second, behind winners Canada.
Joseph, dubbed ‘Sensei’ by his players for his skill at teaching the shortened format of the game, was seen as an obvious choice for the role after guiding his side to that historic victory at Birmingham 2022.
“2022 was such an incredible journey that I was keen and passionate to do it again,” stated Joseph, who won Commonwealth bronze as part of England’s 5v5 basketball line-up at Melbourne 2006.
“I’m not going to naively say ‘we’re going to go back-to-back and get another gold medal’ because you can’t rest of your laurels; you can’t rest on that past celebration.
“It’s a whole new journey and path; everybody’s been getting better and evolving, but of course you want to do your best and we want to aim for gold.”
Sarah Hopkins-Chery, who is originally from Essex, represented England at junior and senior levels as a player, is currently leading the women’s programme at NCAA D2 school Cal State Monterey Bay.
She describes taking a step into international coaching at a multi-sport Games, as an “exciting opportunity” which she believes will be “fun and exciting.”
“The 3x3 game is growing and England’s got some very talented players, some of whom have won medals and competed internationally for England and GB, so there’s experience in the mix as well.”
The 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball contests will take place at the Scottish Exhibition Campus (SEC) between 24-29 July.
An increase in the number of teams competing across both disciplines, when compared to Birmingham 2022, will see an additional three sessions across the six day competition.
“Three extra sessions of the 3x3 Basketball for fans to enjoy reflects the growing popularity of the short format,” states Basketball England’s 3x3 Development Manager Meehra Gorasia.
“With the bulk of the action happening during the opening weekend of the Games, it means the sport is set to gain a whole host of new fans and inspired players.
Gorasia continues; “English preparations are well underway and we’re ready to make a statement once again when competition tips off.”
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