Spain launched Liga U in October 2025 with 15 under-22 teams managed jointly by ACB and FEB. The league received €15 million in government funding over three years and was created specifically to retain Spanish talent choosing NCAA programs for NIL compensation. Liga U provides 24-33 competitive games annually within professional club academies, contrasting with the US system where development occurs across separate high school, AAU, and college programs.
Key Takeaways
- Liga U began October 10, 2025 with 15 ACB club teams and requires rosters to include six Spanish players minimum
- The Spanish government committed €5 million annually for three seasons to fund player scholarships and academic programming
- ACB President Antonio Martín cited high-profile departures like Egor Demin (BYU), Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois), and Karim Lopez (Australian NBL) choosing NCAA NIL deals over Spanish development.
- Early data shows 70% of Liga U rosters consist of national team-eligible players who account for 65% of playing minutes
- No direct NBA partnership exists with Liga U, despite NBA’s broader presence in Spanish basketball through separate initiatives
June 2025 Announcement and October Launch
Liga U was announced on June 18, 2025 at Spain’s Consejo Superior de Deportes headquarters in Madrid. The presentation included Minister of Education Pilar Alegría, FEB President Elisa Aguilar, ACB President Antonio Martín, and CSD President José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes. Competition began October 10, 2025, with the inaugural season running through May 17, 2026.
The league operates with 15 teams divided into two groups based on competitive history. Group A contains eight teams: Barça Atlètic, BAXI Manresa, Casademont Zaragoza, Fundación CB Canarias, Joventut Badalona, Real Madrid, Unicaja, and Valencia Basket. Group B comprises seven teams: Bàsquet Girona, Bilbao Basket, Burgos Grupo de Santiago, Força Lleida, Gran Canaria, Stellantis & You Granada, and UCAM Murcia. Three ACB clubs (Baskonia, Río Breogán, and MoraBanc Andorra) did not participate in the inaugural season.
Players must be born in 2004 or later to qualify. Rosters require a minimum of six Spanish players in the first two seasons, increasing to seven from 2027-28 onward. Athletes can participate in both Liga U and Liga Endesa first teams.
24-33 Game Schedule Structured Around Academic Calendar
The season unfolds across two phases plus playoffs. During Phase One (October 10, 2025 to January 4, 2026), teams play 14 matchdays within their group. A promotion-relegation system then reshuffles the groups based on standings.
Phase Two runs from January 16 to April 19, 2026, with another 14 matchdays. A play-in round precedes the Final 6 tournament (May 15-17, 2026), which includes quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship final. Teams play a minimum of 24 games, with playoff advancement pushing the maximum to 33 games.
Games are scheduled Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to avoid conflicts with Liga ACB matches and accommodate university class schedules.
€15 Million Government Investment Targets NIL-Driven Departures
The Spanish Sports Council and Ministry of Education committed €5 million annually over three seasons, totaling €15 million. This funding supports player scholarships, academic counseling, and dual-career programming allowing athletes to pursue university degrees while competing.
ACB President Antonio Martín specifically cited recent departures when explaining the need for Liga U. “It’s no longer just the NBA, now with checkbook in hand they’re dismantling the talent creation pyramid,” Martín said, referencing Egor Demin’s move to BYU, Kasparas Jakucionis to Illinois, and Karim Lopez to Australian NBL.
FEB President Elisa Aguilar, who played college basketball in the US, acknowledged the NCAA as a legitimate pathway but explained the federation’s position: “As FEB president we couldn’t sit idly by, we also had to give them the option to stay in Spain.”
Spanish Club Academy Model Operates Differently Than US Development Pathways
The structural difference between Liga U and US youth basketball lies in organizational continuity. In Spain, young players join club academies (called canteras) as early as age 10-12 and remain within the same professional organization throughout their development. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Joventut Badalona, and CB Estudiantes operate comprehensive academies with age-group teams at U14, U16, U18, and now U22 levels.
American development separates across multiple systems. High school basketball serves approximately 897,000 participants annually according to National Federation of State High School Associations data, operating fall through winter. AAU basketball, with roughly 800,000 participants, runs spring and summer through independent clubs unaffiliated with professional organizations. Some elite prospects attend prep schools ($30,000-$100,000 annually at institutions like IMG Academy or Brewster Academy) for intensive training.
The NCAA pathway requires completing 16 core courses with a minimum 2.3 GPA for Division I eligibility. Since July 2021, college athletes can earn NIL income while maintaining amateur status. The G League Ignite program, which offered elite prospects up to $500,000 to bypass college, was discontinued in March 2024 after NIL compensation made college more financially attractive.
No Direct NBA Partnership With Liga U
Despite the NBA’s engagement with Spanish basketball, no evidence exists of direct NBA partnership, investment, or official involvement with Liga U. The league was conceived and funded entirely by Spanish institutions (ACB, FEB, CSD, and the Ministry of Education).
The NBA maintains a Madrid office established in 2007 and has broadcast games in Spain since the 1987-88 season. Basketball Without Borders Europe has been held in Spain three times, including a May-June 2024 camp in Malaga featuring 60 prospects from 25 European countries. Endesa became the NBA’s official energy partner in Spain in 2017.
In March 2025, the NBA and FIBA announced joint exploration of a new European league with Spain (Madrid, Barcelona) as a target market, projected for October 2027 launch. Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed discussions with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs. However, these announcements did not reference Liga U or youth development collaboration.
First-Season Data Shows Spanish Player Minutes Meet League Goals
FEB President Aguilar reported December 2025 results showing Liga U achieving its stated objective. 70% of league rosters consist of national team-eligible players. These players have accumulated 65% of total playing minutes, scored 60% of points, and grabbed 65% of rebounds through the first months of competition.
Media reach has exceeded initial projections. Teledeporte broadcasts one match every Friday, averaging approximately 50,000 viewers. Additional agreements with seven regional television stations plus AS TV, Marca TV, and Mundo Deportivo extend coverage. The Liga U YouTube channel has surpassed 3 million views.
League Officials Frame Liga U as International Template
Spanish basketball leaders positioned Liga U in broader terms. ACB President Antonio Martín called it “a historic event that I believe will be an example for other countries. It covers the gap that existed in training both as players and as people.” He emphasized the dual-career component: “Those who want to dedicate themselves to basketball also have other tools to choose what they will do in the future, with training at all levels—athletic, academic, and personal.”
FEB President Elisa Aguilar stated: “We are laying the foundations for the protection of our future… This is an armor, born from the agreement of all the main actors in our sport.”
Minister Pilar Alegría described the launch: “We present a competition that represents a historic event because it is a transformative project. It builds a bridge between education and sport… In Spain, talent is cared for.”
Liga U Addresses Gap in Spanish Professional Basketball Structure
Spain’s professional basketball operates through a four-tier national system: Liga ACB (18 teams), Primera FEB (18 teams), Segunda FEB (28 teams), and Tercera FEB (140+ teams). Below these sit regional leagues. The system features promotion and relegation, with ACB operating independently from FEB since a 1983 split.
Before Liga U, players aged 18-22 faced limited competitive options. Junior competition (U18) ended too early, while ACB first teams offered limited minutes to young players in a highly competitive league. Some clubs fielded reserve teams in lower leagues (EBA/Segunda FEB), but these lacked structured support. Players often chose between limited domestic opportunities and NCAA scholarships with NIL compensation.
The Spanish cantera system has produced elite talent: Ricky Rubio debuted in ACB at 14 after joining Joventut’s academy at 12, the Gasol brothers developed through Barcelona’s system, and Fernando Martín became Spain’s first NBA player (1986) from Real Madrid’s academy. Liga U provides a competitive bridge keeping Spanish talent in domestic development programs during the critical 18-22 age range.
photo: Gigantes
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Primary Sources – Liga U Official Announcements
- Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) – Liga U Launch Announcement https://www.feb.es/2025/6/18/baloncesto/nace-liga-deporte-espanol-une-por-futuro-del-baloncesto/102291.aspx
- Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) – Liga U Season Details https://www.feb.es/2025/7/31/baloncesto/liga-empezara-octubre-con-equipos/102959.aspx
- ACB (Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto) – Liga U Launch https://www.acb.com/articulo/ver/516395-nace-la-liga-u-el-deporte-espanol-se-une-por-el-futuro-del-baloncesto.html
- ACB – Liga U October Start Details https://www.acb.com/articulo/ver/520149-la-liga-u-empezara-el-10-de-octubre-con-15-equipos.html
- Consejo Superior de Deportes (Spanish Sports Council) – Official Announcement https://www.csd.gob.es/en/u-league-born-spanish-sport-joins-future-basketball-0
Spanish Sports Media Coverage
- Gigantes – Liga U Explainer (What is Liga U, how it works) https://www.gigantes.com/liga-endesa/liga-sub-22-baloncesto-que-es-equipos/
- Eurohoops – Liga U Official Presentation https://www.eurohoops.net/en/acb/1839208/u22-u-league-spain/
- Infobae – Liga U Youth Talent Focus https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/10/08/la-liga-u-de-baloncesto-la-nueva-apuesta-espanola-por-el-talento-joven-y-la-formacion-integral/
- Flashscore – Liga U Sub-22 Launch https://www.flashscore.es/noticias/baloncesto-liga-endesa-asi-sera-la-nueva-liga-acb-sub-22-que-intentara-competir-con-la-ncaa/hvkqzaOp/
- Baskonistas – Liga U Competition Details https://www.baskonistas.com/nace-la-liga-u-una-competicion-para-jugadores-sub-22-con-la-participacion-de-los-clubes-de-la-liga-acb/
International Sports Media
- Sports Illustrated – Spanish Basketball Federation Launches New League https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/spanish-basketball-federation-launches-new-league-for-young-players
Reference Sources – Spanish Basketball System
- Wikipedia – Liga U https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_U
- Wikipedia – Spanish Basketball League System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_basketball_league_system
- Wikipedia – Liga ACB https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_ACB
- Wikipedia – Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asociaci%C3%B3n_de_Clubs_de_Baloncesto
US Youth Basketball Data Sources
- NCSA – NCAA Core Courses and Eligibility https://www.ncsasports.org/ncaa-eligibility-center/ncaa-core-courses
- Chicago Public Schools Athletics – Academic Eligibility Guide https://cpsathletics.com/academic-eligibility-101-a-comprehensive-guide-for-understanding-the-academic-requirements-for-college-sports-honest-game/
- AAU Sports – Age Divisions (for participation data reference) https://www.aausports.org/track-and-field/age-divisions
NCAA and G League Context
- CBS Sports – G League Ignite Shutting Down (NIL context) https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/g-league-ignite-shutting-down-nba-cites-ncaas-nil-policy-as-reason-for-ending-developmental-team/
- Washington Post – NBA Youth Basketball Development https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/06/nba-youth-basketball-development/
- OpenCourt Basketball – Luka Doncic on European vs American Training https://www.opencourt-basketball.com/2025/09/19/luka-doncic-highlights-stark-contrast-between-european-and-american-youth-basketball-training/
NBA Europe and Spain Connection
- CNBC – NBA Basketball League in Europe https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/nba-basketball-league-in-europe.html
- Sportcal – Silver Confirms NBA Europe Talks with Real Madrid https://www.sportcal.com/news/silver-confirms-nba-europe-talks-with-real-madrid/
- Front Office Sports – Silver on NBA Europe Viability https://frontofficesports.com/silver-says-nba-europe-wont-be-viable-commercial-enterprise-for-a-while/
- FIBA Basketball – Basketball Without Borders Europe (Spain camp) https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/basketball-without-borders-europe-top-prospects-announced-for-21st-camp-in-spain
- Endesa – NBA Spain Partnership https://www.endesa.com/en/press/press-room/news/social/sponsorships/endesa-nba-spain-partnership
Spanish Basketball Development Historical Context
- ESPN – Ricky Rubio Profile (cantera system context) https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3469578
- Olympics.com – How Spain Develops NBA Talent https://www.olympics.com/en/news/spain-develops-basketball-talent-nba
