The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) basketball outfits put on a masterclass of skill, grit, and dominance at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Basketball 3×3 Championship. On Sunday, 28 June 2026, the UJ Galaxy (Senior Women’s Team) were crowned the undisputed national champions, while the UJ Orange Wave (Senior Men) wrapped up a thrilling campaign as tournament runners-up.
The high-stakes, fast-paced action unfolded at Wits University’s iconic Great Hall, setting a golden standard for UJ Sport ahead of the broader winter championship season.
With a splendid clinical precision, the UJ Galaxy stormed through the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record. They opened their campaign by edging out hosts Wits Ladies in a 10-09 thriller, before unleashing an offensive onslaught in their remaining group matches – dismantling Rhodes University Ladies 19-03 and TUT Ladies 13-04.
The knockout stages proved to be a showcase of defensive mastery and lethal execution. The Galaxy cruised past NWU Vaal Ladies 20-04 in the quarterfinals and secured a commanding 15-09 victory against VUT Ladies in the semifinals. The grand finale against UP-Tuks Ladies was a heart-stopping, wire-to-wire battle, but the Johannesburg side held their nerve to clinch the championship title with a thrilling 15-14 victory.
Orange Wave finish as runners-up After a final thriller
The UJ Orange Wave entered the men’s tournament as the heavy favourites, hunting for a fourth consecutive title. They tore through the early stages of the competition like an absolute inferno, launching their campaign with a staggering 21-01 blowout against Walter Sisulu University, followed by a 21-12 victory over Vaal University of Technology. They ended the group stage match with a 18-10 win against NWU Vaal Men.
The playoffs; UJ crushed Rhodes Men 21-06 in the quarterfinals, and dominating their semifinal matchup 21-08 against NWU Vaal.
The gold-medal match against the University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) was an instant classic – a relentless, neck-and-neck heavy-hitting affair. Ultimately, the Orange Wave fell just two points short of victory, as the Pretoria side claimed the title with a 21-19 win, snapping UJ’s historic three-peat streak.
A haul of individual glory and national team selections
UJ’s team success was mirrored by individual brilliance, with several players walking away with prestigious tournament awards and national team selections:
Tournament Awards
- Women’s Tournament All-Star Player: Nyeleti Nyathi
- Women’s Finals MVP: Anamaree Tlhapa
- Men’s Tournament MVP: Reetsang Kepadisa
National Team Selections
- Women’s National Team: Anamaree Tlhapa, Nyeleti Nyathi, and Mpho Mokoatle
- Men’s National Team: Sbongakonke Mkhwanazi and Thabang Ndlovu
Setting the tone for the USSA Winter Championships
The basketball teams have ignited the spark for the rest of the university’s sporting elite. UJ’s Netball, Squash, Hockey, and Rugby teams are launching their own national campaigns this week (29 June – 03 July) across Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, and Gqeberha.
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