COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Sept. 8, 2025) – USA Basketball announced today details for two USA Basketball Gaming Showdowns taking place next month. Both Showdowns are structured as two-day virtual competitions on NBA2K26’s pro-am mode with a 5v5 crossplay tournament Oct. 4-5 and a 3v3 crossplay tournament Oct. 18-19.
The upcoming Gaming Showdowns mark the second year that USA Basketball has hosted a virtual NBA2K competition as part of a strategic effort to increase participation and awareness in the game. USA Basketball is one of 60-plus national basketball federations around the world to compete in eFIBA, the official esports basketball competition organized by FIBA.
The 5v5 Gaming Showdown features a $3,500 prize pool and registration opens Sept. 12. Teams must consist of five unique players and there is a $50 entry fee per team.
The 3v3 Gaming Showdown has a $1,500 prize pool and registration will open Oct. 6. Teams must have three unique players and there is a $30 entry fee per team.
Participants who compete in either Gaming Showdown have the opportunity for evaluation ahead of potential 2026 USA Basketball E-National Team opportunities.
Additional details for the 5v5 and 3v3 Gaming Showdowns, including entry requirements and rules, are available on the USA Basketball Discord.
In 2024, nearly 20 teams competed in the inaugural 5v5 Gaming Showdown with ‘They Doubted Us’ winning the Final, 3-1.
The USA Basketball E-National Team has won back-to-back eFIBA World Finals, taking Season 2 in Sweden in 2023 and Season 3 in the Philippines in 2024. The next eFIBA World Finals will take place in Qatar in 2026.