Yao Ming and Joe Tsai Back Asian University Basketball League in Major Funding Boost
The landscape of collegiate athletics in Asia is shifting. On April 10, 2026, the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) announced the completion of its Series A funding round, signaling a massive injection of capital and influence into the region’s student-athlete ecosystem. The funding round was led by Blue Pool Capital, the family office of Alibaba Group Chairman and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, with significant participation from Yao Ming, Sequoia China, Nan Fung Group, Avenue Capital, and Bolt Ventures.
This financial milestone arrives as the AUBL prepares to transition from a concentrated tournament format to a sprawling home-and-away league structure, aiming to capture a market that encompasses nearly one billion basketball fans across Asia.
A Personal Mission for Yao Ming
For Yao Ming, the investment is more than a financial venture; it is a corrective measure for a lifelong regret. The basketball legend and former president of the Chinese Basketball Association revealed that being rejected by an NCAA school during his youth remained a point of disappointment. By backing the AUBL, Yao aims to ensure that current Asian student-athletes have access to the high-level international competition and cultural exchange he missed.
“I am very happy that the AUBL can provide a valuable international exchange platform for Asian university players,” Yao stated, while adding a personal note of support for his alma mater, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Joe Tsai, who has already integrated himself deeply into the global basketball scene via the NBA, cited the electric atmosphere of the league’s inaugural event as a primary motivator. After watching the AUBL finals in Hangzhou last year, Tsai noted that the passion of the fans and the performance of the players convinced him that the league was moving in the right direction.
From a Hong Kong Test to a Hangzhou Phenomenon
The AUBL did not appear overnight. Its foundation was laid in November 2024 with a four-day “Asian University Basketball Invitational” in Hong Kong. That test event featured six university teams from China, Japan, and South Korea, with South Korea’s Yonsei University ultimately taking the title.
The success of the invitational paved the way for the first official AUBL tournament in August 2025. Hosted in Hangzhou, the event saw 12 elite university teams compete over the course of a week. The tournament’s scale was immediate and impressive, drawing over 29,000 fans to the arena. Participating institutions included heavyweights such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University from China, as well as Yonsei and Konkuk Universities from South Korea, and Hakuhou and Nippon Sport Science Universities from Japan, alongside Mongolia’s Erdenet University.
The 2026-2027 Roadmap: Expanding the Map
With the Series A funding secured, the AUBL is aggressively expanding its footprint. The league has outlined a two-phase plan for the upcoming year that moves the competition beyond its initial borders, and formats.
The Second AUBL Tournament
The second edition of the AUBL tournament is scheduled to return to Hangzhou from August 2 to August 9, 2026. While the tournament will again feature 12 top-tier university teams, the 2026 edition marks a significant geographic expansion, incorporating teams from the Philippines and Australia for the first time. The official list of participating schools is expected to be released in May.
The Shift to Home-and-Away
The most ambitious move comes in November 2026, when the AUBL will launch its first-ever home-and-away season. This shift is designed to integrate the sport into the daily life of campuses, allowing students, alumni, and local fans to support their teams on home soil.
- Season Start: November 2026
- Season End: Early April 2027
- Field Size: 16 elite Asian university teams
- Format: Home-and-away regular season
Li Jintian, CEO of Asian Campus Basketball Co., Ltd., the league’s exclusive operator, emphasized that the goal is to build a competition that is genuinely desired by coaches, players, and fans alike.
Why College Basketball? The Strategic Bet
Industry analysts and investors view university basketball as the most significant untapped resource in the Asian sports ecosystem. While professional leagues exist, the collegiate level has historically lacked a unified, high-profile platform. By creating a “March Madness” style appeal in Asia, the AUBL is betting that the passion of university loyalty will drive viewership and commercial growth.
The certification of the league by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF) provides the necessary institutional legitimacy, ensuring the tournament is viewed as a premier athletic endeavor rather than a mere exhibition.
Key Takeaways: The AUBL Expansion
- Financial Power: Backed by Joe Tsai’s Blue Pool Capital and Yao Ming, alongside Sequoia China and others.
- Geographic Growth: Expansion into the Philippines and Australia for the August 2026 tournament.
- Structural Evolution: Transitioning from a week-long tournament to a full home-and-away season starting November 2026.
- Market Reach: Targeting the massive, underserved collegiate basketball demographic across Asia.
The next critical update for fans and athletes will arrive in May, when the AUBL officially announces the 12 universities selected to compete in the August tournament in Hangzhou. With the backing of some of the most influential names in global basketball, the league is no longer just a test—it is a destination.
Do you think a home-and-away format will successfully capture the passion of Asian college students? Let us know in the comments.
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