2025 Foot Locker U16 National Championship Set in Red Energy Arena

The 2025 Foot Locker Under-16 National Championship is set to commence in Bendigo, Victoria, from 5 to 13 July at the Red Energy Arena.

The week-long tournament will feature representative teams from all Australian states and territories, serving as a key event for talent identification within Basketball Australia’s junior pathways.

The Under-16 National Championships have functioned as a important platform for emerging basketball talent.

The tournament, which dates back to 1955 for the men’s competition and 1971 for the women’s, has seen numerous current NBA, NBL, and international players participate in their formative years, including Dante Exum, Maddison Rocci, Luke Travers, Jade Melbourne, and Ben Simmons.

This pipeline of talent underscores the championship’s strategic value for national team programs and professional leagues seeking to identify future prospects.

The event benefits from a naming rights partnership with Foot Locker, aligning a global retail brand with grassroots basketball development.

The choice of Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena as the host venue also highlights the role of regional infrastructure in attracting national sporting events.

Hosting such a championship is expected to generate economic activity for Bendigo, including accommodation, hospitality, and local spending by participating teams, coaching staff, families, and talent scouts.

The tournament is positioned as the third junior pathway event on Basketball Australia’s calendar for the year, following the Under-20 & Ivor Burge Championships and the Under-18 National Junior Wheelchair Championships.

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