SCHEDULE
LADDER
IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT
01
20 extra games locked in.
02
Wednesday night prime-time.
03
New points system: every quarter counts.
04
Top four face off in the semi-finals.
05
Winners of the Semi-finals face off for the Ignite Cup.
06
Record prize money - $550k up for grabs.
07
Every game impacts the regular season race.
08
Ignite game day experience.
WHAT IS IGNITE CUP?
What is the Hungry Jack's NBL Ignite Cup?
The in-season tournament is played across 20 Wednesday night games, with every result counting towards the regular season ladder. A unique quarter-by-quarter scoring system decides a separate Ignite Cup ladder.
For NBL27, the tournament evolves into a four-team Ignite Cup Finals Series at AIS Arena in Canberra. The teams will battle it out for a share of $550,000 in prize money, the largest in League history and up from last season's $400,000.
THE SCORING SYSTEM
Three (3) points is awarded to the Club that wins the game;
One (1) point is awarded to the Club who scores the most points in each quarter;
Half (0.5) a point is award to both Clubs if both Clubs score the same number of points in a quarter; and
Zero (0) points are awarded if a Club scores the least points in a quarter or loses the game.
The maximum number of points available to a Club who wins the game is seven (7) – four (4) points for winning each quarter and three (3) points for winning the game.
The maximum number of points available to a Club who loses a game is three (3) points – three (3) points for winning three (3) quarters.
If a game goes to overtime, no further points are awarded other than the three (3) points for winning the game.
FAQs
The Ignite Cup is the Hungry Jack’s NBL’s new in-season tournament, adding 20 extra games to the schedule on Wednesday nights. The tournament features a unique scoring system and culminates in a standalone Final with a $400,000 prize pool.
The Ignite Cup runs from Round 4, beginning October 8th, 2025, and continues through to Round 22 of the NBL season, concluding January 28th, 2026. The Final will be held in February, 2026.
Each of the 10 NBL teams will play two home games and two away games during the tournament. Games are scheduled every Wednesday night, with results contributing to both the Ignite Cup standings and the regular season ladder.
The points system operates as per the below:
three (3) points is awarded to the Club that wins the game;one (1) point is awarded to the Club who scores the most points in each quarter;half (0.5) a point is award to both Clubs if both Clubs score the same number of points in a quarter; andzero (0) points are awarded if a Club scores the least points in a quarter or loses the game.The maximum number of points available to a Club who wins the game is seven (7) – four (4) points for winning each quarter and three (3) points for winning the game.
The maximum number of points available to a Club who loses a game is three (3) points – three (3) points for winning three (3) quarters.
If a game goes to overtime, no further points are awarded other than the three (3) points for winning the game.
The total prize pool for the Ignite Cup is $400,000, with the winning team receiving $300,000 and the runner-up receiving $100,000. Of the winnings, 60 per cent is allocated directly to the players, with the remaining 40 per cent to the Club.
Ignite Cup games aim to enhance the game day experience both in-stadium and through your TV at home. With a wide range of exciting new assets and fan engagement activities, Wednesday nights at the NBL will be the place to be.
Tickets for Ignite Cup games can be purchased through the NBL website or the respective team’s website. Check the schedule for specific game dates and venues.
To receive the latest news and ticketing information, sign up for the NBL newsletter on the NBL website. Follow the NBL on social media and download the free NBL App for real-time updates.
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