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 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | New Zealand Breakers (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Adelaide 36ers |
| MVP | Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) |
The 2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup was a multi-stage basketball tournament that was played during the 2025–26 NBL season. It was the first edition of the NBL Ignite Cup. The tournament was hosted from 8 October 2025 to 22 February 2026, beginning in Round 4 with the New Zealand Breakers defeating the Illawarra Hawks, 117–88 at Spark Arena.[1] All 10 teams participated, each playing four regular season games that counted towards the tournament's standings and the league standings.
The tournament's championship game was played at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on the Gold Coast, Queensland,[2][3] where the New Zealand Breakers were crowned the inaugural Ignite Cup champions.[4]
Prize money
The winning team will receive $300,000 AUD, while the runner-up receives $100,000 AUD.[5] 60 percent will go directly to the players, with the remaining 40 percent going to the clubs.[6]
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 | 93–73 | Cairns Taipans | Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 27–21, 23–19, 20–12 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Cotton 22 Rebs: Rakocevic 13 Asts: Cotton 11 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Waardenburg 19 Rebs: five players 5 Asts: Andrews 6 |
Attendance: 10,006 |
| 31 December 2025 | Illawarra Hawks | 92–90 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 | Scoring by quarter: 23–18, 27–21, 23–26, 19–25 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Froling, McGee 16 Rebs: Froling 10 Asts: Peterson 5 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Bannan 25 Rebs: Magnay 8 Asts: Marshall 4 |
Attendance: 5,359 |
| 31 December 2025 | Cairns Taipans | 96–111 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 28–21, 24–27, 26–35, 18–28 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: McVeigh 26 Rebs: Andrews 7 Asts: Andrews 9 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Sobey 31 Rebs: three players 5 Asts: Sobey 10 |
Attendance: 4,870 |
| 7 January 2026 | Melbourne United | 92–93 | Cairns Taipans | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 22–29, 23–14, 30–33, 17–17 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Goulding 27 Rebs: Krebs 8 Asts: Delany, Walker 4 |
boxscore report |
Pts: McVeigh, Waardenburg 20 Rebs: McVeigh, Waardenburg 9 Asts: Andrews 13 |
Attendance: 4,003 |
| 21 January 2026 | Melbourne United | 98–66 | Brisbane Bullets | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 | Scoring by quarter: 29–19, 28–17, 24–14, 17–16 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Walker 17 Rebs: Krslovic 8 Asts: Walker 5 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Holt 23 Rebs: Holt 8 Asts: Maldonado, Taylor 4 |
Attendance: 3,978 |
| 21 January 2026 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 123–116 | New Zealand Breakers | State Basketball Centre, Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 | Scoring by quarter: 38–28, 36–26, 26–31, 23–31 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Clark 24 Rebs: Brown 9 Asts: Sobey 7 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Mennenga 28 Rebs: López 8 Asts: Jackson-Cartwright 9 |
Attendance: 3,422 |
| 28 January 2026 | Brisbane Bullets | 74–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Gold Coast Sports Centre, Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 24–33, 22–19, 9–16, 19–39 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Holt 24 Rebs: Taylor 10 Asts: Maldonado 8 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Cotton 22 Rebs: Cheatham 7 Asts: Cotton 8 |
Attendance: 2,441 |
| 28 January 2026 | Perth Wildcats | 101–93 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | Perth Arena, Perth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 24–32, 25–19, 26–26, 26–16 | |||
| ESPN | Pts: Windler 23 Rebs: Windler 11 Asts: Henshall 9 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Sobey 28 Rebs: Brown 14 Asts: Iwundu 4 |
Attendance: 6,245 |
Championship game
| 22 February 2026 | Adelaide 36ers | 107–111 | New Zealand Breakers | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30 | Scoring by quarter: 25–28, 29–19, 28–34, 25–30 | |||
| 10 Drama | Pts: Cotton 34 Rebs: Rakocevic 11 Asts: Cotton 9 |
boxscore report |
Pts: Jackson-Cartwright 29 Rebs: López, Te Rangi 8 Asts: López, Jackson-Cartwright 5 |
Attendance: TBC |
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PP | BP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide 36ers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 390 | 329 | 118.5 | 12 | 21 | Ignite Cup final |
| 2 | New Zealand Breakers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 441 | 385 | 114.5 | 11 | 20 | |
| 3 | Perth Wildcats | 4 | 3 | 1 | 399 | 365 | 109.3 | 9.5 | 18.5 | |
| 4 | Melbourne United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 390 | 359 | 108.6 | 9.5 | 15.5 | |
| 5 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 349 | 338 | 103.3 | 8.5 | 14.5 | |
| 6 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 4 | 2 | 2 | 408 | 402 | 101.5 | 8 | 14 | |
| 7 | Illawarra Hawks | 4 | 2 | 2 | 372 | 397 | 93.7 | 7 | 13 | |
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 4 | 1 | 3 | 334 | 411 | 81.3 | 6 | 9 | |
| 9 | Sydney Kings | 4 | 1 | 3 | 350 | 381 | 91.9 | 5 | 8 | |
| 10 | Cairns Taipans | 4 | 1 | 3 | 340 | 406 | 83.7 | 3.5 | 6.5 |
Updated to match(es) played on 28 January 2026. Source: Ignitecup.com.au
References
- ^ "NBL26 Schedule: Every game, every round". NBL.com.au. 22 June 2025.
- ^ Uluc, Olgun (7 October 2025). "NBL Ignite Cup: Everything you need to know". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ Shadlow, Jai (7 October 2025). "'All roads lead to Gold Coast': In-season tournament reveal adds to NBL expansion rumblings". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ "PJC leads Breakers to Ignite Cup crown". nbl.com.au. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "The NBL's Ignite Cup: Everything You Need To Know". NBL.com.au. 18 June 2025. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Mid-week shake-up as NBL reveals 'daring and bold' new tournament, with record payday". Fox Sports. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
External links
- Official website
- Official NBL All-Time Stats at NBL Insider