From local standout to overseas import, Jumpshot Singapore’s Tan enters a new chapter in 2026. 

Jumpshot Singapore is proud to announce that Tan Kang Yi has officially become Singapore’s first female professional 3×3 basketball player, marking a significant milestone for women’s basketball in Singapore and across the region. 

Her professional breakthrough is the result of years of competing in high-level 3×3 basketball tournaments across Asia, where she has steadily built a reputation as a versatile and consistent performer. 

Tan Kang Yi’s milestone positions her as a trailblazer for women’s basketball in Singapore, highlighting the growing pathway for Singapore basketball players to compete professionally in international 3×3 basketball leagues. 

 

A Career Forged in 3×3 Competition

Kang Yi began her 3×3 journey in earnest in 2022, quickly stepping onto the international stage at the FIBA 3×3 Basketball Thai Super League in Ayutthaya. That same year, she captured the Singapore University Games 3×3 championship, signalling her transition into the fast-paced, condensed format. 

Since then, she has competed in tournaments across China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines, gaining exposure to diverse playing styles and competitive standards. Her performances have included multiple domestic 3×3 titles, a second-place overall finish in the FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League Asia series, a silver medal at the Asean University Games in 2024, and even an individual podium finish for the 2-point shootout competition at the Asian University Games. 

 

Competing in Overseas Professional 3×3 Basketball Leagues

These results reflected both her growth and composure under pressure, leading to repeated overseas professional 3×3 basketball import opportunities. 

In late 2024, Kang Yi was signed as an import player by Sanjo Beaters.Exe for the 3XS Kuki Woman Open Tournament, where the team finished second. She returned as an import in the 3XS 2025-26 season and continued competing alongside established regional players across Southeast Asia. 

The next year, she formally signed as a professional 3×3 athlete with Jumpshot Singapore, becoming the first Singaporean woman to sign a professional 3×3 basketball contract. 

Following her contract signing, she reached a new milestone at the start of 2026, when she was engaged as an import player by Uratex Tibay at the renowned Manila Hustle 3×3 tournament. At Manila Hustle, she delivered memorable performances such as calmly getting a crucial steal and knocking down a game-winning basket for her team, as well as recording the tournament’s single-game scoring high, while competing alongside and against elite athletes from across the globe. 

“Being signed as an import was a defining moment for me,” said Kang Yi. “It meant that a professional team believed I could compete and deliver at that level. Playing in different countries forces you to adapt quickly. Every tournament sharpens your decision-making and pushes you to grow.” 

 

Expanding Her Regional Footprint in 2026

Kang Yi’s professional calendar continues as she joins Filipino powerhouses Uratex Dream to compete in the Thailand 3×3 League, one of Southeast Asia’s strongest independent circuits. 

Uratex Dream is widely-regarded as Philippines’ premier women’s 3×3 team with a strong standing on even the global stage, having placed second against top international competition at the Red Bull Half Court World Finals. She will have the opportunity to play alongside established stars such as Kaye Pingol, the highest-ranked Filipina in the FIBA 3×3 rankings, and Alexis Pana, while competing against some of the most experienced 3×3 specialists from all over Asia. 

Additional professional opportunities in Thailand and Vietnam are currently being explored as she continues to expand her regional footprint. 

Her growing international engagements reflect not only her individual development, but also the increasing visibility of Singaporean players in the broader 3×3 ecosystem. 

“Seeing and playing against players on the world stage motivates me, because I get to experience different styles and levels of basketball, and it inspires me to want to achieve that for myself,” she said. “Learning to adjust to those differences has been one of the biggest growth areas for me. I want to keep testing myself against stronger and more experienced players.” 

Beyond the competitive element, Kang Yi emphasises the importance of team culture in this next phase of her journey with the Dream squad. “What matters most to me is playing in teams that truly fight for each other,” she added. “The best environments I’ve been part of weren’t about individual achievements or recognition. It was about trust, camaraderie and that shared mentality that it’s us against the world.” 

 

From Singapore School Basketball to Professional 3×3 Career

A Sports Science graduate of Nanyang Technological University, Kang Yi combines academic understanding with practical experience, working closely with performance and nutrition specialists to meet the demands of professional play. 

Before her emergence on the professional stage, Kang Yi built a strong competitive foundation at school level, captaining teams to national titles and earning repeated MVP recognition. That early dominance laid the groundwork for her transition into higher tiers of competition, but it was her early appearances in regional 3×3 tournaments and leagues which gave her the belief that competing professionally was realistic. 

“There was a moment when I realised this was more than just competing locally,” she reflected. “After playing overseas and holding my own, I knew that pursuing a professional pathway was possible. That mindset shift was huge.” 

 

Looking Ahead

For Kang Yi, becoming Singapore’s first female professional 3×3 basketball player represents not the culmination of her basketball dreams, but a mere starting point. 

“I do not see this as the endpoint,” she said. “I want to compete consistently in stronger leagues and test myself against top-tier Women’s Series and Olympic-level players. The higher the level, the more motivated I become.” 

In striving to achieve her dreams, Kang Yi draws inspiration from the elite players she has had the opportunity to train alongside and compete against over the years. “I admire players who can defend multiple positions, stretch the floor and stay calm in closing moments. Players who show up consistently and press on in crucial moments are especially inspiring to me. That is the standard I am working towards.” 

As the first female professional 3×3 basketball player within Singapore, Kang Yi’s rise signals an emerging pathway for local athletes willing to compete beyond national borders. 

Alongside her professional commitments, she remains involved in Jumpshot Singapore’s development initiatives, determined to help strengthen that pathway for the next generation of aspiring players. 

“I am thankful for this milestone,” she said. “But I believe there are still many more firsts ahead.”