VTB United League General Director Ilona Korstin spoke after today’s Board Meeting about the key changes ahead of the 2026/27 season.
On the new season format: We talked with our clubs and decided to change the format. We will have 12 teams in the VTB United League, and we will also continue the in-season WINLINE Basket Cup, which will run alongside the regular season. The format includes two stages followed by a split into groups – we think this works well. In Stage 1, everyone plays everyone. Then teams are divided into Group A and Group B, where they play within their group. The top six go straight to the playoffs, and the bottom six will have a play-in. This gives teams in the second group a chance to fight for the playoffs, and I think it makes for an exciting format. It adds more tension and more games. Then comes the playoffs. The 3rd place series has been shortened – it will now be best-of-three.
On the new clubs: It is great to see applications coming in and interest in the VTB United League growing. This year we welcomed two new teams – Dynamo Vladivostok and Astana. We will have an international format, with Astana returning after a short break. There is also interest from clubs in Chelyabinsk, Minsk and Ufa. These teams want to join the League next season. I hope that interest stays. We are already working with them, advising on what needs to be done to meet our regulations, because we have high standards and a strict rulebook. But all of that is to keep our competition at a high level.
