The FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) is an international basketball league organised by FIBA Asia, consisting of clubs from West Asia and Gulf regions, in addition to the representatives of South and Central Asia. The league was announced in 2022 and started with the inaugural season from December, until June 2023.
 | |
| Organising body | FIBA Asia |
|---|---|
| Founded | 31 March 2022 |
| First season | 2022–23 |
| Countries | 14 |
| Conferences | 2 |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Feeder to | Basketball Champions League Asia |
| Current champions |  Al Riyadi (1st title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships |  Manama Al Riyadi (1 title each) |
| TV partners | YouSport WASL (YouTube) |
| Website | Official website |
 2024–25 FIBA West Asia Super League | |
The league exists out of 18 teams, divided in its sub-zones. The champions and runners-up of each season is scheduled to qualify for the Basketball Champions League Asia.
History
editOn March 31, 2022 FIBA announced the creation of the West Asia Super League. The United Arab Emirates-based company eVulpa was appointed as partner for its commercial rights.[1]
The inaugural season has begun on 19 December 2022, and will end in May 2023, with a total of eighteen teams playing in the 2022–23 season.[2] Kuwait SC were the inaugural champions of the Gulf League,[3] while Al Riyadi Beirut won the inaugural West Asia League title.[4] The first-ever Final Eight was hosted in Dubai, and on 17 June 2023, Manama from Bahrain won the inaugural championship.[5]
Results
editThe WASL has three champions each season: the winner of the Gulf League, of the West Asia League and the overall winner who comes out of the final stage victorious.
WASL champions and finals
edit| Ed. | Year | Host | First place game | Third place game | Num. teams |
Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winners | Score | Runners-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | |||||
| 1 | 2022–23 |  Dubai
|
Manama
|
67–59 |  Kuwait Club
|
 Astana
|
94–90 | Al Riyadi Beirut
|
18
|
[6] |
| 2 | 2023–24 |  Doha
|
Al Riyadi
|
100–90 (OT) | Sagesse
|
 Shahrdari Gorgan
|
92–76 | Kuwait Club
|
18
|
[7] |
Sub-Zone League champions
editThe champions of the Sub-Zone Leagues (Gulf League and West Asia League) are determined by play-off series. In the finals, the two teams play in a best-of-three series.
WASL Gulf League
edit| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Kuwait Club
|
2–0
|
Manama
|
Shabab Al Ahli
|
 Al Hilal
|
| 2023–24 | Kuwait Club
|
2–1
|
Manama
|
Kazma
|
Al Muharraq
|
WASL West Asia League
edit| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Al Riyadi Beirut
|
2–0 | Shahrdari Gorgan
|
Beirut Club
|
Zob Ahan Isfahan
|
| 2023–24 | Al Riyadi Beirut
|
2–1 | Shahrdari Gorgan
|
Sagesse
|
 Al Shorta
|
Records and statistics
editLeague records
editLargest win
Youngest player to appear in a WASL game
- 17 years-old Hussain Albalooshi (Shabab Al Ahli Basketball) on 6 March 2023 (vs. Al Bashaer)[9]
Most points in a game by a single player
- 46 points by Édgar Sosa (Al Naft) on 9 March 2023 (vs. Al Riyadi Club Beirut)[10]
Most rebounds in a game by a single player
- 20 rebounds by Arsalan Kazemi (Zob Ahan Isfahan) on (vs. Beirut Club)[11]
Most assists in a game by a single player
- 13 assists by Saeed Alajmani (Shabab Al Ahli) on (vs. Kazma)[11]
Most steals in a game by a single player
- 8 steals by Karrar Hamzah (Al Naft) on 16 November 2023 (vs. Al Ittihad Aleppo)[12]
Most blocks in a game by a single player
- 6 blocks by Salah Mejri (Kazma, vs. Shabab Al Ahli)[11]
Highest attendance in a game
- 13,000 people (Al Ittihad Aleppo vs. Sagesse) on 14 December 2023[13]
Performances by club
edit| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manama
|
1 | 0 | 2023 | — |
| Al Riyadi
|
1 | 0 | 2024 | — |
| Kuwait Club
|
0 | 1 | — | 2023 |
| Sagesse
|
0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
Performances by nation
edit| Nation | Winners | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon
|
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bahrain
|
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kuwait
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
Number of participating clubs of the West Asia Super League
editThe following is a list of clubs that have played or will be playing in the WASL group stage.
| Nation | No. | Clubs | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon (3)
|
2 | Al Riyadi | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 1 | Beirut Club | 2022–23 | |
| 1 | Sagesse | 2023–24 | |
| Iran (2)
|
2 | Shahrdari Gorgan | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 1 | Zob Ahan Isfahan | 2022–23 | |
 Syria (3)
|
2 | Al Ittihad Aleppo | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 1 | Al Karamah | 2022–23 | |
| 1 | Al Wahda | 2023–24 | |
 Jordania (2)
|
1 | Orthodox Amman | 2022–23 |
| 1 | Al Ahli Amman | 2023–24 | |
| Iraq (1)
|
2 | Al Naft | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Saudi Arabia (3)
|
1 | Al Hilal | 2022–23 |
| 1 | Al Nassr Riyadh | 2022–23 | |
| 1 | Al Ahli Jeddah | 2023–24 | |
| Kuwait (2)
|
2 | Kuwait Club | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 2 | Kazma | 2022–23, 2023–24 | |
| United Arab Emirates (1)
|
2 | Shabab Al Ahli | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
 Oman (1)
|
1 | Al Bashaer | 2022–23 |
| Kazakhstan (1)
|
2 | Astana | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Qatar (3)
|
1 | Al Rayyan | 2023–24 |
| 1 | Al Sadd | 2022–23 | |
| 1 | Al Shamal | 2023–24 | |
| Bahrain (2)
|
2 | Manama | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 1 | Al Muharraq | 2023–24 | |
 India (1)
|
1 | Tamil Nadu | 2023–24 |
Most Valuable Player
editStarting from the 2023–24 season, FIBA announced an annual most valuable player. The inaugural award was given to Thon Maker of Al Riyadi.[14]
References
edit- ^ "FIBA announces creation of West Asia Super League". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "FIBA announces the launch of West Asia Super League (WASL)". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Kuwait Club complete historic sweep, become first-ever WASL-Gulf champs". FIBA.basketball. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Al Riyadi deliver masterclass at home, secure inaugural WASL-West Asia crown". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Manama clinch inaugural FIBA WASL championship". FIBA.basketball. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "Sweet payback: Manama overcome Kuwait Club, emerge as first-ever FIBA WASL champions". FIBA.basketball. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "Al Riyadi emerge as new FIBA WASL champions". FIBA.basketball. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Al Hilal eliminate Al Bashaer by 55 in record win". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Albalooshi proud as he becomes youngest to play in WASL at 17". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Riyadi get revenge despite Sosa scoring WASL record 46 points". FIBA.basketball. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Will these FIBA WASL records get broken in Season 2?". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Karrar Hamzah writes history, breaks FIBA WASL single-game steals record". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Record attendance of 13K fuels more hope to Al-Ittihad Ahli in FIBA WASL". FIBA.basketball. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Thon Maker crowned as first-ever FIBA WASL MVP". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
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