Global Investors Back AUBL Series A Funding, Expansion Set for 2026–27 Season

The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) has officially closed its Series A funding round, attracting a strong group of global investors led by Blue Pool Capital, the family office of Alibaba co-founder and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. The investment marks a major step forward in the league’s ambition to build Asia’s premier collegiate basketball platform.

Joining Tsai in the funding round are Avenue Capital Group led by Marc Lasry, Bolt Ventures from Philadelphia 76ers co-owner David Blitzer, venture firm HSG, Hong Kong-based Nan Fung Group, and basketball legend Yao Ming. Their participation signals growing confidence in the development of university basketball across Asia.

The AUBL gained momentum following its successful debut tournament in Hangzhou last year, which featured 12 of Asia’s top university programs. The event drew more than 65 million livestream views and nearly 30,000 fans in attendance, highlighting the rising interest in collegiate basketball in the region.

With fresh capital secured, the league outlined its roadmap for the 2026–2027 cycle. A standalone 12-team tournament will return to Hangzhou from August 2–9, 2026, with new expansion teams from the Philippines and Australia joining established programs from Greater China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. Participating schools are expected to be announced in May.

Following the tournament, AUBL will launch its first-ever home-and-away season beginning in November 2026. The historic campaign will feature 16 university teams competing across multiple Asian cities, culminating in a championship event in 2027 designed to mirror the excitement of the NCAA’s March Madness.



AUBL CEO and co-founder Jay Li emphasized that the league aims to build more than just a competition. The organization is focusing on world-class event management, deeper engagement with students and alumni, and youth development through its Hoop Scholars initiative.

The investment group includes three current or former NBA team owners—Joe Tsai, David Blitzer, and Marc Lasry—further strengthening the league’s credibility in the global basketball ecosystem. Yao Ming also made his first investment in an emerging sports league, expressing his belief that AUBL can create new opportunities for Asian student-athletes.

Sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation, AUBL launched in 2025 and is positioning itself as a unifying platform for Asia’s top university programs. With expansion plans underway and a full season on the horizon, the league is aiming to elevate collegiate basketball into a major cultural and sporting force across the region.