Israeli Basketball League Winner Cup

The Winner Cup was introduced by the league manager to build early-season interest in Israeli basketball and create the season's first title. A 2010 retrospective described its then-current structure as a one-week knockout tournament involving the eight highest-finishing clubs from the regular league season.[5]

The first Winner Cup quarterfinals took place on October 15, 2006, at Jerusalem's Malha arena, shortly before the regular league season began.[2] Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Ironi Ramat Gan 83–72 after trailing 28–20 early in the second quarter, while Givat Shmuel beat Ironi Nahariya 87–77.[2] Attendance was modest: approximately 1,600 spectators watched the Jerusalem game, while only a few dozen attended the other contest.[2]

The tournament's format has changed over time. In 2010, it was described as a condensed knockout competition for the eight clubs that had finished highest in the regular league season.[5] For the 2023 edition, four clubs played in the round of 16, while the teams that had finished first through fourth in the preceding season entered directly in the quarterfinals. That tournament began on September 14.[1]

The 2026 edition adopted a group and play-in structure. The preceding season's champion and runner-up, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, received direct places in the quarterfinals. The other 12 teams were divided into four groups of three, with each club playing one home and one away game.[6] The four group winners advanced directly, while the four runners-up contested two play-in games on September 22–23 for the remaining quarterfinal places.[6][4] The group stage began on September 8.[4]

The cup has been staged at venues across Israel, including arenas in Jerusalem, Gan Ner, Nahariya, Kiryat Ata, Haifa, Rishon LeZion, Holon, Tel Aviv, and Hadera.[7] Hadera's Enerbox arena was selected for the 2022 edition as part of the league manager's stated effort to bring top-level basketball to areas outside the principal metropolitan centers.[7]

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem met in three consecutive Winner Cup finals from 2014 through 2016. Maccabi won in 2014, Jerusalem claimed the title in 2015, and Jerusalem defeated Maccabi 77–62 in the 2016 final at Ein Sara Arena in Nahariya.[8] Following the 2016 victory, Jerusalem coach Simone Pianigiani cautioned: "It's only September and only one good game."[8]

The 2019 final produced another close meeting between the clubs. Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 84–83 at Toto Holon Hall to win the cup for the fifth time. After Maccabi opened an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Jerusalem answered with a 10–0 run and held on for the victory.[9]

The 2022 final was a Tel Aviv derby. Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 88–84 in overtime after the game was tied 73–73 at the end of regulation.[3] Alex Poythress led Maccabi with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Lorenzo Brown contributed 20 points and nine assists.[3]

In 2024, Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Maccabi Ramat Gan 86–83 in the final at Toto Holon Hall.[10][11] Ramat Gan recovered from a double-digit deficit to lead 62–61 entering the fourth quarter, but Maccabi regained control. Late free throws by Levi Randolph and John DiBartolomeo helped secure the win.[10] Jaylen Hoard was named tournament MVP, while Tamir Blatt left with an apparent knee injury at the start of the final period.[10]

Hapoel Jerusalem claimed the 2025 title with an 89–84 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv, earning the club's seventh Winner Cup.[12] Tournament MVP Jared Harper scored 33 points in the final.[12]

Attendance grew substantially from the sparsely attended inaugural games in 2006. The 2021 edition set a competition record, with approximately 20,000 fans attending games across the tournament.[7] The following edition was held at Hadera's Enerbox arena, continuing the league manager's policy of taking the preseason competition to different parts of Israel.[7]

Sport1 listed Maccabi Tel Aviv with 10 Winner Cup titles in July 2023.[1] After the club's 2024 victory, Sport5 identified the trophy as its 11th, a total repeated in September 2026.[11][4] Hapoel Jerusalem ranks second with seven titles, while Elitzur Ashkelon and Maccabi Rishon LeZion have each won once.[4]

One example of Maccabi's tournament success came in the 2015 quarterfinals, when it defeated Ironi Ness Ziona 84–54. A 20–0 scoring run spanning the first and second periods opened a 24-point lead.[13]

Some reference pages have lagged behind contemporary results. A Walla team profile lists only six Maccabi Tel Aviv titles, all won between 2007 and 2015.[14] Sport1 reported 10 titles by July 2023, while Sport5 identified the 2024 victory as the club's 11th.[1][11] The Walla profile's cutoff therefore makes it unsuitable as a current all-time total.

The schedule for the 2026 final also developed over time. A July Walla report listed November 8 or November 15, depending on the finalists, while the Sport5 tournament page listed the Maccabi Tel Aviv–Hapoel Tel Aviv final for November 9, 2026, at 20:55 as of October 7.[6][15]