"We're the favourities": Gangurrus attack Games with confidence

The Australian Gangurrus women’s team head into the 2026 Commonwealth Games full of confidence following their recent successes on the world stage.

That includes winning a historic silver medal at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Poland and taking out both the Sumgait and Potters’ Women's Series in recent months.

So much so, head coach and 2001 NBL champion Damon Lowery called his team the favourites heading into the Glasgow tournament.

"We're the favourites," Lowery said to Basketball Australia.

"We've won the last four Asia Cups. We've medalled twice at World Cups. We've just won two Women's Series stops.

"Why shouldn't we expect to win?

"I want us to go through Glasgow and just wreak absolute carnage.”

Since claiming bronze behind Canada and England in Birmingham four years ago, the Gangurrus team, which features UC Capitals’ Amy Atwell, Townsville Fire’s Emma Clarke, Paris Olympian Marena Whittle and two-time WNBL champion Lara McSpadden, have established their place among the world’s top 3x3 nations, but Lowery said the team’s rise has never been built on crafty skills alone.

"There’s a whole bunch of talent out there, but not all talent can play together," he said.

"I've got to bring in good quality people ... unselfish people, good teammates. I don't get seduced by talent alone anymore."

That culture has become one of the Gangurrus' defining strengths, earning the program global respect and leaving one comment proudly etched in Lowery's memory.

"One coach went up to my girls after a tournament and said, 'My team has talent, but they don't have your heart.'

"'You guys just don't ever give up.'"

The Gangurrus opened their tournament with a 21-5 win over Kenya, and will now play Jamaica, Fiji, Cayman Islands and Uganda.