Sprite expands hoops legacy with NBL partnership

Sprite is the Official Soft Drink Partner of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) with a multi-year partnership, tipping off in the 2026-27 season.

The partnership will see Sprite courtside across Australia's premier men's and women's basketball competitions, owning the freshest moments in Australian basketball, starting with the dunk.

Sprite will show up right across the calendar, from regular season games to HoopsFest and the Finals Series.

The partnership also spans the NBL Next Stars, connecting the brand with the full breadth of the game and the brightest next stars coming through it.

Through NBL Next Stars, Sprite will back the brightest next stars using the League as a launchpad to the professional game and, for many, the NBA.

It is a natural fit for a brand that has long championed individuality and self-expression, and a way to meet the next generation of fans and players where they already are.

The partnership brings Sprite's global basketball presence home to Australia, following the brand's return as the NBA's Official Global Soft Drink Partner in 2026 and a new multi-season partnership with EuroLeague Basketball for 2026-27 — reviving a connection to the sport that ran from 1986 to 2015 and included a long run as title sponsor of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

At the centre of the partnership is the dunk, basketball's most electric moment. Sprite will take ownership of it through The Freshest Dunks, a season-long platform celebrating the best dunks across the NBL and WNBL, on broadcast, in-arena and on social.

Fans can expect:

• The Freshest Dunks: the standout dunks of every round, cut for the feed and played out across screens in-arena.
• Promotions, giveaways and courtside hydration running across the life of the partnership.

Sprite will also own the refreshing moments of the women's game and back the WNBL's rising profile, amplifying players and standout moments through social and content as the league continues to grow its audience.

Gemma Versteeg, Sprite Marketing Director, said: "Sprite and basketball have been intertwined for decades. Bringing that story to the local NBL and WNBL is a natural next step. Australian basketball is fast, growing and unapologetically itself, which is exactly what Sprite stands for. We're here to own the freshest moments in the game and give fans something worth talking about."

David Stevenson, NBL Group Chief Executive Officer, said: "Sprite has been a global supporter of elite basketball for a long time, and it's great to see our connection growing in Australia and New Zealand alongside the continued growth of the NBL and WNBL.

"Partners like Sprite continue to fuel that trajectory, and I want to personally thank Ahmed and the team at Coca-Cola Australia and New Zealand for backing our players, our fans and the future of elite basketball.

"There are so many genuine fan moments this partnership will bring to life across both leagues, from massive dunks to back-breaking shots, and all the celebrations that follow; when we've seen fans caught up in the action and trying not to spill their Sprite with the excitement. We are thrilled to be growing this partnership and look forward to bringing Sprite, the NBL and WNBL closer to fans across Australia and New Zealand."

Lauren Jackson, Chief Strategy and Basketball Partnerships Officer of the WNBL, said: "The WNBL is growing faster than ever, with bigger crowds, more people watching our games and a new generation of fans connecting with our players. Partnerships like this are important because they help us celebrate the moments that make basketball so exciting and put our athletes in front of even more Australians. Sprite brings a fresh energy that fits perfectly with where the WNBL is heading, and we're excited to see our players and their standout moments amplified across the season."

Further details on activations, prizes and events will be shared across the 2026-27 season.