FIBA STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: SHAPE INTERNATIONAL CLUB COMPETITIONS
One of FIBA’s key goals is to develop a clear and standardized club competition framework around the world. Through the development of long-term formats and qualification routes for international club competitions, FIBA aims to ensure that its competitions are inclusive and that participation is fundamentally based on sporting merit for clubs across all regions.
Club competitions for men are now in place across all FIBA’s regions and across three of four regions for women, with plans in place to introduce a women’s league in Asia in the near future. Most recently, in the Americas, the announcement of the expansion of women’s basketball with the introduction of a new league, the Women’s Basketball League Americas (WBLA) was made with the league tipping off in September 2023.
These targets go hand-in-hand with one of the foundational points of FIBA’s 'Shape International Club Competitions' strategy – providing a clear player pathway from grassroots all the way through to the international level for elite athletes. Providing an elite competition for those top players is the key goal for FIBA and its player pathway, with the Basketball Champions League (BCL) the best example of this and one of the most recognized club competitions in the world.
This strategic priority has four main goals:
Goal 1: Offer a clarity of competition format and qualification process
Goal 2: Promote FIBA’s model based on sporting criteria
Goal 3: Optimize synergies within the FIBA Family
Goal 4: Achieve financial sustainability
FIBA's CLUB COMPETITIONS:
FIBA INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup was introduced in 1966. The aim of the competition has always been to bring winning clubs from different continents together to compete for a prestigious title. The tournament is now an important showcase for top club teams and reflects the strength of professional basketball leagues around the world.
For the first time in 2023, the field of contenders was expanded from four to six teams, with Champions teams playing from the Basketball Champions League (BCL), the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA), the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the NBA G League, the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) and the Chinese Basketball Association.
Click here for the 2023 results.
.png)
FIBA's CLUB COMPETITIONS:
EUROPE
With its global status, the Basketball Champions League (BCL) has served as a flagship competition since its creation in 2016, with 150 clubs from 37 countries participating so far over its seven seasons.
Click here for 2023/24 season.
The FIBA Europe Cup was established in 2015 with teams across the continent competing each season. There have been seven different winners of the competition representing six countries.
Click here for the 2023/24 season.
EuroLeague Women is the premier women’s basketball competition in Europe, featuring the top 16 teams from the continent and some of the world’s best players, including Diana Taurasi (USA), Emma Meesseman (Belgium), Sue Bird (USA), Lauren Jackson (Australia) and Breanna Stewart (USA). The competition has a long and illustrious history, launching in 1958 as the European Cup for Women’s Champion Clubs. In 1996, the tournament was rebranded as EuroLeague Women, with 12 different clubs lifting the silverware since the reboot. EuroLeague Women, which continues to soar in popularity.
Click here for the 2023/24 season.
The EuroCup Women is the second-tier women’s club competition in Europe, with teams from across the continent competing each season. Since its inception in 2002, there have been 15 winners, along with a host of stars like Isil Alben (Turkey), Celine Dumerc (France), Ann Wauters and Cynthia Cooper (USA). Since 2022-23, all games have been streamed live and on YouTube.
Click here for the 2023/24 season.
.png)
FIBA's CLUB COMPETITIONS:
AMERICAS
The Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA), established in 2019, is the premier men’s basketball competition of FIBA in the Americas and features teams from 10 National Federations from across the continent. The BCLA was introduced to replace the FIBA Americas League, with a key aim being to foster a balance between quality and representation, all while further developing the FIBA brand in the region. Twenty-three clubs have competed in the BCLA’s four seasons to date.
Click here for the 2023/24 season.
The Liga Sudamericana de Baloncesto, FIBA’s prestigious club league in South America, celebrated its 25th edition in 2022 and featured 16 teams. Dating back to 1996, this league has a long history and a long list of champions, including the Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt.
Click here for the 2023 season.
The Liga Sudamericana de Baloncesto Femenino is FIBA’s premier women’s league in the Americas. Having been reintroduced in 2019 following a four-year hiatus, the South American League featured 11 teams in the 2022 season. Meanwhile, the sixth edition of the LSBF took place in 2023 with a new format and featured eight sides from six nations.
Click here for the 2023 season.
FIBA's newest women's league, the Women's Basketball League Americas (WBLA), will tip off at the end of September 2023, with a total of eight teams from seven countries in the Americas being part of this inaugural season.
Click here for the 2023 season.
![LOGO ROAD TO BAL NOIR[94].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/231765_1e2f7f3dd3774ec39aa96affa992f0fa~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_129,h_91,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/LOGO%20ROAD%20TO%20BAL%20NOIR%5B94%5D.png)
FIBA's CLUB COMPETITIONS:
AFRICA
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is Africa’s premier men’s basketball league that marked the start of a new era for club basketball on the continent in 2021. A joint venture between FIBA and the NBA, it features 12 teams qualifying via FIBA’s domestic competition to take part in the league.
The Road to BAL, executed by FIBA for the BAL season, features more than 20 teams playing in the qualification tournament system across the continent with six places up for grabs. Since its inception in 2021, 18 nations have been represented in the BAL, while the Final in 2023 saw a sold-out crowd take in the action.
Click here for the Road to BAL 2024.
Formerly known as the FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup, the Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) has been in existence for over three decades and remains the most prestigious and high-profile competition for women’s clubs on the continent. Domestic champions play in the league to test themselves against their peers from other African nations, with 12 teams competing in the re-branded 2023 edition.
Click here for the 2023 season results.
FIBA's CLUB COMPETITIONS:
ASIA
The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), formerly known as FIBA Asia Champions Cup, is the premier men’s basketball club competition of FIBA in Asia featuring the best 8 teams across the continent. The winner of the BCL Asia also earns the right to represent the continent at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, FIBA’s highest-tier club competition.
Click here for the BCL Asia Qualifiers.
The FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) is FIBA’s newest regional club competition in Asia, featuring the best clubs from West Asia and the Gulf regions, as well as Central and South Asia. FIBA announced in 2022 the launch of its newest league as part of its commitment to developing National Federations and teams through national leagues. Through the WASL, clubs from the West Asia, Gulf, Central Asia, and South Asia sub-zones have the opportunity to qualify for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, on the road to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, FIBA’s highest ranked club competition.
Click here for the 2022/23 season results.
Following a ten-year agreement granted in 2020, the East Asia Super League (EASL) inaugural season tipped off in October 2022 with eight champion teams from each region participating. Season 2 is set to take place from October 2023 to March 2024.
