2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup
Official poster for the NBL Ignite Cup | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Date | 8 October 2025 – 22 February 2026 |
| Venues |
|
| Teams | 10 |
| Purse | See prize money |
The 2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup is a multi-stage basketball tournament that will be played during the 2025–26 NBL season. It was the first edition of the NBL Ignite Cup. All 10 teams participate, each playing four regular season games that count towards the tournament's standings. All games in the knockout round, except for the championship game, also count towards the regular season standings. The tournament's championship game will be played at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast.
The tournament will be hosted from 8 October 2025 to 22 February 2026. It began in Round 4 with the New Zealand Breakers defeating the Illawarra Hawks, 117–88 at Spark Arena.[1] The final will be played at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland.[2][3]
Prize money
The winning team will receive $300,000 AUD ($198,450 USD), while the runner-up receives $100,000 AUD ($66,150 USD).[4] 60 percent will go directly to the players, with the remaining 40 percent going to the clubs.[5]
Ignite Cup games
| 8 October 2025 | New Zealand Breakers | 117–88 | Illawarra Hawks | Spark Arena, Auckland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 30–24, 30–25, 27–23, 30–16 | |||
| Sky Sport | Pts: Jackson-Cartwright, Mennenga 20 Rebs: López 9 Asts: Jackson-Cartwright 17 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Harvey 22 Rebs: Blanchfield 8 Asts: Harvey 6 |
Attendance: 3,101 |
| 8 October 2025 | Sydney Kings | 93–107 | Melbourne United | Sydney SuperDome, Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 25–29, 27–21, 19–31, 22–26 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Cooks, Davis 21 Rebs: Cooks 10 Asts: Dellavedova 7 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Walker 27 Rebs: Edwards 12 Asts: Doyle 6 |
Attendance: 9,528 |
| 15 October 2025 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 86–70 | Sydney Kings | Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 29–19, 21–13, 19–18, 17–20 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Campbell 21 Rebs: Bannan 14 Asts: Bannan, Marshall 6 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Galloway 13 Rebs: Cooks, Soares 8 Asts: three players 4 |
Attendance: 4,139 |
| 15 October 2025 | Perth Wildcats | 93–110 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Arena, Perth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 27–30, 23–24, 22–30 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Jones 19 Rebs: Doolittle 5 Asts: Doolittle 6 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Prather 34 Rebs: Harrison 15 Asts: Adams, Patterson 6 |
Attendance: 6,110 |
| 22 October 2025 | Cairns Taipans | 78–110 | Perth Wildcats | Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 22–30, 20–30, 20–28, 16–22 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Schofield 16 Rebs: Galloway 8 Asts: Smith 5 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Lual-Acuil 24 Rebs: Doolittle 8 Asts: three players 4 |
Attendance: 3,317 |
| 29 October 2025 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 84–95 | Perth Wildcats | Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 28–16, 13–21, 27–35, 16–23 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Hamilton 26 Rebs: Bannan 8 Asts: Campbell 7 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Lual-Acuil 23 Rebs: Russo-Nance 7 Asts: Doolittle 4 |
Attendance: 4,139 |
| 5 November 2025 | Illawarra Hawks | 107–93 | Melbourne United | Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 32–22, 25–21, 22–25, 28–25 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: McGee 37 Rebs: McGee 14 Asts: Hickey, Peterson 7 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Delany 21 Rebs: Edwards, Krslovic 6 Asts: Doyle 11 |
Attendance: 3,012 |
| 12 November 2025 | Brisbane Bullets | 84–113 | New Zealand Breakers | Gold Coast Sports Centre, Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 18–27, 18–41, 21–24, 27–21 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Prather 26 Rebs: Harrison, Prather 8 Asts: Ducas 5 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Mennenga 25 Rebs: Baker 11 Asts: Jackson-Cartwright 7 |
Attendance: 2,275 |
| 19 November 2025 | Adelaide 36ers | 97–85 | Illawarra Hawks | Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 | Scoring by quarter: 21–22, 23–27, 27–15, 26–21 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Cotton 31 Rebs: Humphries 9 Asts: Cotton 13 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Harvey 21 Rebs: McGee 10 Asts: Hickey 7 |
Attendance: 9,964 |
| 3 December 2025 | New Zealand Breakers | 95–90 | Sydney Kings | Claudelands Arena, Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 23–20, 19–27, 27–16 | |||
| Sky Sport | Pts: Jackson-Cartwright 24 Rebs: López, Mennenga 6 Asts: Brockington 5 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Davis 18 Rebs: Cooks 7 Asts: Davis 11 |
Attendance: 2,770 |
| 10 December 2025 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 81–89 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Gippsland Indoor Stadium, Traralgon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 36–27, 12–25, 18–18, 15–19 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Iwundu 17 Rebs: Hunter, Iwundu 8 Asts: Iwundu 4 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Hamilton 18 Rebs: Bannan 12 Asts: Bannan 4 |
Attendance: 1,953 |
| 17 December 2025 | Sydney Kings | 97–93(OT) | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena, Canberra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 23–29, 20–27, 23–9, 19–20, Overtime: 12–8 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Cooks, Davis 27 Rebs: Cooks 8 Asts: Davis, Dellavedova 7 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Cotton 25 Rebs: Cheatham 13 Asts: Cotton 9 |
Attendance: 4,154 |
| 24 December 2025 | Adelaide 36ers | vs. | Cairns Taipans | Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2025 | Illawarra Hawks | vs. | Tasmania JackJumpers | Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2025 | Cairns Taipans | vs. | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 2026 | Melbourne United | vs. | Cairns Taipans | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January 2026 | Melbourne United | vs. | Brisbane Bullets | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January 2026 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | vs. | New Zealand Breakers | State Basketball Centre, Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 January 2026 | Brisbane Bullets | vs. | Adelaide 36ers | Gold Coast Sports Centre, Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 January 2026 | Perth Wildcats | vs. | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | Perth Arena, Perth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand Breakers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 325 | 262 | +63 | 9 | 18 | Ignite Cup final |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 3 | 2 | 1 | 298 | 272 | +26 | 7 | 13 | |
| 3 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 259 | 246 | +13 | 6.5 | 12.5 | |
| 4 | Adelaide 36ers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 190 | 182 | +8 | 5 | 8 | |
| 5 | Brisbane Bullets | 2 | 1 | 1 | 194 | 206 | −12 | 5 | 8 | |
| 6 | Illawarra Hawks | 3 | 1 | 2 | 280 | 307 | −27 | 5 | 8 | |
| 7 | Sydney Kings | 4 | 1 | 3 | 350 | 381 | −31 | 5 | 8 | |
| 8 | Melbourne United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 200 | 200 | 0 | 4 | 7 | |
| 9 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 1 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 89 | −8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
| 10 | Cairns Taipans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 110 | −32 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 17 December 2025. Source: Ignitecup.com.au
References
- ^ "NBL26 Schedule: Every game, every round". NBL.com.au. June 22, 2025.
- ^ Uluc, Olgun (October 7, 2025). "NBL Ignite Cup: Everything you need to know". ESPN Australia. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Shadlow, Jai (October 7, 2025). "'All roads lead to Gold Coast': In-season tournament reveal adds to NBL expansion rumblings". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "The NBL's Ignite Cup: Everything You Need To Know". NBL.com.au. June 18, 2025.
- ^ "Mid-week shake-up as NBL reveals 'daring and bold' new tournament, with record payday". Fox Sports. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
External links
- Official website
- Official NBL All-Time Stats at NBL Insider