BROOKLYN, NY — MADE Hoops, the leading grassroots basketball platform in the United States, and FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, today announced a strategic partnership to launch the MADE Hoops Global Games, the first-ever middle school basketball championship, in association with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. A groundbreaking global competition for youth athletes ages U10 through U14, the event will use FIBA international rules and basketballs. The MADE Hoops Global Games will be held June 12-14, 2026, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball and home to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The partnership brings together MADE Hoops’ unmatched grassroots infrastructure, which serves more than 100,000 youth athletes annually and hosts over 125 events each year across the country, and FIBA’s global reach and credibility to create a world-class competitive platform for middle school-aged athletes. It marks the first time an international governing body and a leading American grassroots organization have joined forces to produce a global set of games at this age level.
“We are truly honored and deeply appreciative to join forces with MADE Hoops. This partnership represents a transformative opportunity for aspiring young athletes. By combining MADE Hoops’ profound expertise in the landscape of youth basketball in the US with FIBA’s expansive international reach and experience, we are creating a powerful alliance. I’m genuinely enthusiastic about the new avenues this collaboration will open for young players worldwide, providing both boys and girls with meaningful opportunities to advance their basketball careers,” said Carlos Alves, CEO of FIBA in the Americas.
The MADE Hoops Global Games builds on the momentum of MADE’s newly opened training facility in Brooklyn, New York, which is dedicated to 24/7, year-round skills training and player development. MADE will continue to adopt global best practices and bring them to American players. The partnership with FIBA will provide the groundwork for international participation in the event, with domestic teams and athletes selected from the MADE Hoops Circuit. MADE Hoops will also provide full on-site operations and support. In addition to the MADE Hoops Global Games in June, games will be scheduled throughout the year and take place around the world with teams from the United States and other selected countries, including multiple European teams. The qualifying events to follow the June tournament will set the stage for participation in future editions of the MADE Hoops Global Games, further connecting youth athletes through the sport of basketball.
“Partnering with FIBA to create the MADE Hoops Global Games is about giving the next generation of players a world-class moment to compete at a pivotal time in their development as athletes, and it’s another step in MADE’s journey to connect American basketball players with European basketball development and culture,” said Chad Babel, Founder and CEO of MADE Hoops. “Our hope is that this event helps players from around the world create lifelong memories and relationships through a shared love of the game in a competitive environment with international rules, and that we can use the game of basketball to shrink the world and educate young people.”
MADE Hoops has become synonymous with grassroots basketball in America, building a massive following across social media and a performance apparel brand experiencing viral growth among young athletes and their families. The partnership with FIBA represents a natural opportunity to extend that brand internationally, bringing MADE’s identity and community to new markets while deepening its position as the defining platform in youth basketball.
“Springfield is the birthplace of basketball, and it’s only fitting that the world’s first middle school basketball world championship comes home to where the game was born,” said John Doleva President and CEO, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Global Games represent exactly the kind of event that honors Dr. Naismith’s original vision, a game for everyone, everywhere. The Hall of Fame has long served as a gathering place for the global basketball community, and we are proud that our relationships helped bring MADE Hoops and FIBA together to create something truly special for Springfield, one that will drive significant economic impact for our city and the surrounding region.”
In November 2025, MADE Hoops announced its first-ever outside investment, led by SC Holdings and LRMR Ventures, with additional participation from Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s 35V and Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero — bringing on strategic partners to help fuel its continued growth.
“SC Holdings invested in MADE to build the platform youth basketball deserves — one that operates at a global standard,” said Jason Stein, Co-Founder of SC Holdings. “The best young players in America should be competing under international rules, against international competition, from the earliest stages of their development. That’s how you shrink the distance between the U.S. and the rest of the world.”
“MADE has created the most-influential brand in youth basketball and continues to find ways to meaningfully serve athletes,” said Rich Kleiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Boardroom. “This partnership is another example of how MADE operates on a different level, bringing athletes together from across the globe to create experiences and memories that not only impact their growth but stay with them forever.”
For the initial competition in 2026, teams will be selected on an invite-only basis. Selected teams will participate in pool play followed by single bracket play. Teams can apply to play in the tournament at this link: https://www.madehoops.com/EventInfo_2026-Global-Games.
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