The FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) is a relatively new addition to the basketball league community. It brings together the top teams and players from West Asia wherein they go head-to-head in intense matches, showcasing their talent and skills. If you want to know more about the FIBA WASL, here’s your guide. 

What is the FIBA WASL?

The FIBA WASL basketball is organized by FIBA Asia and features clubs from West Asia, the Gulf Region, and some from South Asia and Kazakhstan. It’s considered the top-tier basketball league in the region and acts as the feeder tournament for bigger events like the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. 

How the WASL Began

On March 31, 2022, FIBA ASIA established the FIBA WASL with the help of eVulpa, a company based in the United Arab Emirates which handles the league’s commercial rights. Their goal was to make a top basketball league for countries in West Asia and the Gulf. Its first season began in December 2022 and concluded in June 2023. 

WASL League Format

Much like other top domestic basketball leagues, FIBA WASL’s regular season features games and stage advances for the top teams. The league has two main stages including the group stages and the Final Eight:

Group stages  In the group stages, 16 teams are divided into conferences: the West Asia League and the Gulf League. A group stage commences at each conference. Each of the 8 teams is split into groups of four teams within each of the competing conferences. They play in a round-robin format, including both home and away games. Each of the two conferences will compete in a total of 48 games. The teams who finish first in each of the two conference groups will proceed to the semifinals.

Final Eight The 8 teams who won their respective groups and 4 squads who won in the play-in round will compete against each other. They will play in a single-elimination format, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final game to determine the winner.

Why should you look forward to the FIBA WASL?

If you’re a huge fan of basketball and are seeking an exciting global tournament, you shouldn’t miss out on the FIBA WASL. Here are some reasons why FIBA WASL is the fast-rising basketball league tournament in the world:

• Rising Stars The league provides promising players a chance to show off their skills. You can witness the growth of new players who have what it takes to become the next Asian basketball superstars. 
• New Records For every FIBA WASL season, there’s always a huge chance to set new records. For instance, during the 2022–2023 WASL season, teams like Al Naft and Al Riyadi averaged 90.4 and 94.4 points per game. These scores set a high standard for others, inspiring them to beat the records. 
• Growing Appeal Despite being a new addition to the basketball league community, the FIBA WASL is gaining recognition worldwide. With plenty of excitement and energy pouring into the league, it’s expected to see it become one of the most regarded league events in the basketball world. 
• Intense Level of Play Clubs from all around West Asia and the Gulf compete at the highest level in the FIBA WASL. This brings high-quality basketball matches featuring skilled players to look forward to. 
• New Rivalries FIBA WASL basketball has a history of high-scoring encounters between new rivals like Al-Ittihad Ahli vs Al Wahda. In the 2022–23 Syrian Basketball League, Al Wahda won beating Al Ittihadi. This formed a strong rivalry between the two, each striving to prove themselves in the following matches.