New Enovos League Basketball Season Opens with FIBA Rules Update

The 2026/27 Enovos League basketball season in Luxembourg will get underway on Saturday 19 September 2026, with twelve teams competing in the men's championship, while the seven-team women's competition will begin the following day with the second edition of the Enovos League Ladies Open.

Men's Enovos League

The format of the men's competition remains unchanged from recent seasons. Twelve teams will compete over a 22-game regular season, after which the top eight will advance to the play-offs to determine the champion.

The 2026/27 line-up consists of Amicale Steinsel, Basket Esch, Etzella Ettelbruck, Musel Pikes, Résidence Walferdange, Sparta Bertrange, T71 Dudelange, Arantia Larochette, Kordall Steelers, Racing Luxembourg, Gréngewald Hueschtert and AS Soleuvre. Gréngewald Hueschtert and AS Soleuvre are the two newly promoted teams, replacing Mambra Mamer and AB Contern in the top division.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu about the title race, Ken Diederich, Head of Basketball / Technical Director at the Luxembourg Basketball Federation (FLBB), said: “Apart from Etzella, T71 Dudelange and Sparta seem ready to compete for the championship. Steinsel has also put together a very good roster for the upcoming season.” He added: “I do think it will be a different season. Last year, almost all games were very close and competitive. Kordall, for example, took Etzella to a deciding game in Ettelbruck in the quarterfinals.”

Ken Diederich also highlighted Kordall Steelers' run to the quarterfinals last season and Arantia Larochette's Cup victory as two of the notable achievements of the previous campaign.

Game Day 1 - Saturday 19 September:

Basket Esch - Résidence Walfedange
T71 Dudelange - Arantia Larochette 
Sparta Bertrange - AS Soleuvre 
Kordall Steelers - Etzella Ettelbruck
Racing Luxembourg - Amicale Steinsel

Sunday 20 September:
Gréngewald Hueschtert - Musel Pikes

Women's Enovos League

The women's competition will once again feature seven teams in 2026/27. All seven will face each other three times before the start of the semi-finals and play-down.

The league consists of Amicale Steinsel, Basket Esch, AB Contern, Musel Pikes, Gréngewald Hueschtert, T71 Dudelange and Les Sangliers Wiltz. Gréngewald Hueschtert return to the top division after winning the women's Enovos League title in 2024/25, while Sparta Bertrange, last season's Cup winners, withdrew their women's team ahead of the new campaign.

Looking at the title race, Ken Diederich said: “Looking at this season, defending champions T71 have to be considered the clear favourites. Behind them, I see Contern and Basket Esch as the teams most likely to challenge them.”

Regarding Gréngewald's return, he noted that the club's immediate focus is unlikely to be on challenging for the title, but rather on giving significant playing time to young players and building for the future.

“Having only seven teams in the league is certainly not ideal, especially because we had originally planned with Sparta before their late withdrawal. In my opinion, eight teams would be the right number for the Enovos League, and I believe we can get back to that number as early as next season,” he added.

Enovos League Ladies Open

The women's season will begin with the second edition of the Enovos League Ladies Open at 11:00 on Sunday 20 September 2026 at Centre Sportif “Am Sand” in Niederanven. 

Amicale Steinsel - ASP Sainte Marie aux Chênes (Fiendly)
AB Contern - Les Sangliers Wiltz 
Basket Esch  - T71 Dudelange 
Gréngewald Hueschtert - Musel Pikes

FIBA rule changes for the 2026/27 season

The 2026/27 season will also coincide with the introduction of updated FIBA basketball rules, which are due to take effect from 1 October 2026.

Among the main changes is a revised classification of fouls. The current unsportsmanlike foul category will be replaced by disruptive and flagrant fouls, while technical fouls will also be divided into two types depending on the nature and seriousness of the infringement and whether they count towards disqualification.

The updated rules will also expand the use of the Instant Replay System (IRS). Referees will be able to review goaltending and basket interference situations following a called foul at any point in the game. In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime, reviews will also be possible to determine whether the ball was still in the hands of a player making a throw-in when a defensive foul occurred.

FIBA has also clarified the definition of continuous movement and the act of shooting, particularly in situations where contact occurs before a player begins a shooting motion. Other changes concern double fouls, fighting situations and some technical aspects of court markings and player equipment.