2025-26 B.League Season Set to Tip Off with New Format and Matchups
The 2025-26 B.League season, officially known as the 2025-26 Resona Group B1 League season, is scheduled to begin on October 3, 2025, and conclude in May 2026. This season marks the tenth iteration of Japan’s top professional basketball league since its establishment in 2015. A key change this season is the shift to a two-conference system, replacing the previous three-conference format.
Defending Champions and New Teams
Utsunomiya Brex enter the season as the defending champions, having secured their third B.League title in 2025 with a victory over the Ryukyu Golden Kings.
Two teams will be joining the B1 League this season after being promoted from the B2 League: Altiri Chiba and Toyama Grouses. Relegation from the B1 League was suspended last season in preparation for the league’s reformatting.
Opening Games and Schedule
The season will kick off on September 22nd, 2026, with a highly anticipated matchup between Alvark Tokyo and the Ryukyu Golden Kings. Sanen Neo Phoenix will host their “B Premier” opening game on September 26, 2026, in Sendai.
Teams Competing in the 2025-26 B1 League
The following teams will compete in the 2025-26 B1 League season:
- Brex
- Crane Thunders
- Happinets
- Levanga
- Robots
- 89ers
- Altiri
- Jets
- Alphas
- Alvark
- Sunrockers
- Brave Thunders
- B-Corsairs
- Golden Kings
- Susanoo Magic
- Hannaryz
- Evessa
- Dragonflies
- Velca
- Ballooners
- Lakes
- Grouses
- Chūkyō
- Greater Tokyo
- SeaHorses
- Diamond Dolphins
- Fighting Eagles
- NeoPhoenix
Standings as of February 1st, 2026 (East Division)
Here’s a snapshot of the East Division standings as of February 1st, 2026:
| # | Team | GP | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levanga Hokkaido | 35 | 26 | 9 | .743 | — |
| 2 | Utsunomiya Brex | 35 | 26 | 9 | .743 | — |
| 3 | Chiba Jets | 35 | 26 | 9 | .743 | — |
| 4 | Alvark Tokyo | 35 | 24 | 11 | .686 | 2 |
| 5 | Gunma Crane Thunders | 35 | 22 | 13 | .629 | 4 |
| 6 | Sendai 89ers | 35 | 21 | 14 | .600 | 5 |
| 7 | Sunrockers Shibuya | 35 | 15 | 20 | .429 | 11 |
| 8 | Yokohama B-Corsairs | 35 | 13 | 22 | .371 | 13 |
| 9 | Koshigaya Alphas | 35 | 13 | 22 | .371 | 13 |
| 10 | Altiri Chiba | 35 | 10 | 25 | … | … |
Where to Watch
Fans can follow the action throughout the season on the official B.League website: . Highlights from games, including Alvark Tokyo vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings from February 1, 2025, are also available on platforms like YouTube. Detailed game information and statistics can be found on sites like Sofascore.
Worth a look