--- title: "The End of 'Bubbles' in Ukrainian Basketball: The SuperLeague Returns to a Road Schedule and Expands" description: "The Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague is returning to the classic road schedule, abandoning the 'bubble' format! πŸ€ BC Khmelnytskyi may join the elite, and playoff series will become longer. Champion 'Dnipro' is preparing a new defense, while 'Real' parts ways with Alexey Lenev. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ”₯" date: 2026-07-10T07:52:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/end-of-bubbles-in-ukrainian-basketball-superleague-returns-to-road-schedule-and-expands tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The End of 'Bubbles' in Ukrainian Basketball: The SuperLeague Returns to a Road Schedule and Expands ![Player in white 'Sokoly' jersey dribbling past defender in green β€” symbolizing the return of road-game format to Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/10/ukrainskaya-superliga-otkazyvaetsya-ot-formata-babley-i-vykhodit-na-novyi-sezon/ukrainskaya-superliga-otkazyvaetsya-ot-formata-babley-i-vykhodit-na-novyi-sezon-1.webp) Ukrainian professional basketball is preparing for a major transformation. Representatives of domestic SuperLeague clubs held a strategic meeting where they determined the key development vectors for the tournament in the near future. The main outcome of the meeting was the decision to radically change the match format and potentially expand the geography of the elite division. ### Return to Classics: Abandoning the 'Bubble' Format The most significant innovation will be the abandonment of the so-called 'bubble' system. Over the last few seasons, due to instability, teams were forced to gather in one specific city to play a series of games, which eliminated the concept of home and away matches. Although this format was necessary during the crisis period, it did not allow fans across the country to fully support their teams on their home courts. Organizers plan to return to the classic road schedule. This is the format used in Ukrainian basketball before the start of the full-scale war. It is expected that the decision to switch to the traditional system will be officially approved in the near future, signaling a return to the familiar sports atmosphere. ### Expansion of the Elite and New Playoff Rules In addition to logistical issues, officials discussed replenishing the SuperLeague roster. In the new season, the winner of the First League β€” the Khmelnytskyi basketball club β€” may join the highest echelon of Ukrainian basketball. This decision could significantly increase the competitiveness of the tournament and expand the geography of the competition. An updated format for the decisive part of the season was also agreed upon. To increase the spectacle and drama of the final clashes, fans can expect a significant expansion of the elimination series. This will allow teams to show themselves more vividly in the fight for the title and give fans more reasons to be excited. ### Current Context: Champion and Transfers Against the backdrop of upcoming changes, it is worth noting the current leaders. The reigning SuperLeague champion is BC Dnipro. The Dnipro team won the 'gold' series of the 2025/26 championship season against the capital's 'Kyiv-Basket', allowing them to triumph in the tournament for the third time in a row. At the same time, Ukrainian basketball is facing losses on the international stage. Earlier, Madrid's 'Real' officially announced the termination of the contract with talented Ukrainian guard Alexey Lenev. This fact highlights the complexity of the situation for players forced to seek new opportunities abroad, while the country's sports infrastructure is gradually being restored and modernized.