Latvia's National League loses all Latgale clubs, "Sigulda" also exits

Latvia's second-strongest basketball competition, the National League, has shrunk from 24 teams last season to 21 this year. "Līvāni" has stepped down to the Regional League, and "Daugavpils" — which debuted in the National League last year but finished near the bottom with only four wins — has followed the same path. "Daugavpils" will be led into the new season by experienced coach Pēteris Ozoliņš. With both clubs stepping back, the National League will have no team representing the Latgale region this season.

Also leaving the National League is "Sigulda", which was coached at the start of last season by Kristaps Valters before Reinis Rudzītis took over mid-season. The city's basketball presence in LBS competitions now continues only in the Regional League through the "Sigulda Sports School" team.

No other new teams have joined the league — only names have changed. "Grobiņa" will now compete under the name "Dienvidkurzemes novads", while "Ekselences centrs" has been renamed "Rīgas Kadeti".

No promotions from the Regional League

Notably, no Regional League team chose to move up to the National League this season. Even last season's Regional League champions, "Ādaži/Daily", remain in the third tier, playing in the central subgroup alongside Cēsis, the steady "Rūjiena" side and neighboring "Saulkrasti", as well as a Ukrainian club from Valka now coached by Ukrainian Artems Tiņakovs.

Meanwhile, the Regional League's Eastern group will feature four Latgale teams — "Daugavpils", "Līvāni", "Ezerzeme/Rēzekne" and "Krāslava" — with "Madona" seen as the group's favorite. Due to a shortage of players, "Gulbenes Buki Juniors" will not compete in the Regional League, with its young players instead competing for spots in the main "Gulbenes Buki" roster.

Alongside the leagues, 11 National League teams and six Regional League teams have entered the "Užava" basketball cup.