NEW YORK – Players Era, an EverWonder Studio company, today announced that Kansas men’s basketball will participate in the 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship in Las Vegas. As one of the most storied programs in the nation, Kansas joins a highly competitive field for a premier in-season tournament. The Players Era Men’s Championship currently has 16 teams committed for next year’s field.
“Adding the University of Kansas – a perennial national championship contender and arguably the most accomplished program in the history of NCAA men’s basketball – to our 2025 Men’s Championship field elevates our event to an entirely different level,” said Players ERA CEO Seth Berger. “I want to thank Coach Bill Self for his commitment to Players Era and his belief in what we are building, putting the players' needs above all else and building an unprecedented field of top-tier programs. It includes multiple teams from each power conference and the Big 12 leading the way with four squads, which is going to make this a must-see event.”
Added Self: “We're fired up to be a participant in next year's Players Era Men’s Championship. This season’s Players Era was a big success. This will be a great opportunity for our team and I’m sure our fan base will enjoy spending a few more days in Las Vegas.”
Kansas is the latest powerhouse program to join the 2025 field, as the Players Era Men’s Championship expands from eight to at least 18 teams for next year’s competition. This addition comes off the groundbreaking and successful launch of the men’s Players Era Festival that debuted at MGM Grand Garden Arena and was distributed on TNT Sports.
The 2025 Men’s Championship will introduce an entirely new structure for early-season tournaments, with the expanded event featuring international-style group play with championship matchups. The Jayhawks join all eight programs who participated in last month’s inaugural tournament, Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State and Texas A&M - along with new participants Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Michigan, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s and Syracuse.
The loaded field features 12 teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the latest AP Top-25 rankings, including seven teams in the top-15 in No. 3 Iowa State, No. 6 Alabama, No. 8 Kansas, No. 10 Oregon, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 13 Gonzaga and No. 15 Houston. The tournament will once again provide the opportunity for athletes on each team to engage in NIL activities for Players Era and its sponsors outside of competition.
About EverWonder Studio
EverWonder Studio is a best-in-class content studio and production company across Documentary, Live, Experiential and Brand Partnerships, led by multi-Emmy-winning Producer and executive Ian Orefice (TIME Studios) and backed by legendary media executive Jeff Zucker (CNN, NBCUniversal) and RedBird IMI. The studio’s focus is on nonfiction subjects with worldwide appeal, transforming them into entertainment that has purpose and impact, and then expanding those projects as businesses across platforms, screens, and experiences. With projects that span sports, culture, and global affairs, EverWonder creates meaningful entertainment that sparks the imaginations of people around the world.
About Kansas Athletics
Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation, which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men's and women's intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 27,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
“Adding the University of Kansas – a perennial national championship contender and arguably the most accomplished program in the history of NCAA men’s basketball – to our 2025 Men’s Championship field elevates our event to an entirely different level,” said Players ERA CEO Seth Berger. “I want to thank Coach Bill Self for his commitment to Players Era and his belief in what we are building, putting the players' needs above all else and building an unprecedented field of top-tier programs. It includes multiple teams from each power conference and the Big 12 leading the way with four squads, which is going to make this a must-see event.”
Added Self: “We're fired up to be a participant in next year's Players Era Men’s Championship. This season’s Players Era was a big success. This will be a great opportunity for our team and I’m sure our fan base will enjoy spending a few more days in Las Vegas.”
Kansas is the latest powerhouse program to join the 2025 field, as the Players Era Men’s Championship expands from eight to at least 18 teams for next year’s competition. This addition comes off the groundbreaking and successful launch of the men’s Players Era Festival that debuted at MGM Grand Garden Arena and was distributed on TNT Sports.
The 2025 Men’s Championship will introduce an entirely new structure for early-season tournaments, with the expanded event featuring international-style group play with championship matchups. The Jayhawks join all eight programs who participated in last month’s inaugural tournament, Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State and Texas A&M - along with new participants Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Michigan, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s and Syracuse.
The loaded field features 12 teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the latest AP Top-25 rankings, including seven teams in the top-15 in No. 3 Iowa State, No. 6 Alabama, No. 8 Kansas, No. 10 Oregon, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 13 Gonzaga and No. 15 Houston. The tournament will once again provide the opportunity for athletes on each team to engage in NIL activities for Players Era and its sponsors outside of competition.
About EverWonder Studio
EverWonder Studio is a best-in-class content studio and production company across Documentary, Live, Experiential and Brand Partnerships, led by multi-Emmy-winning Producer and executive Ian Orefice (TIME Studios) and backed by legendary media executive Jeff Zucker (CNN, NBCUniversal) and RedBird IMI. The studio’s focus is on nonfiction subjects with worldwide appeal, transforming them into entertainment that has purpose and impact, and then expanding those projects as businesses across platforms, screens, and experiences. With projects that span sports, culture, and global affairs, EverWonder creates meaningful entertainment that sparks the imaginations of people around the world.
About Kansas Athletics
Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation, which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men's and women's intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 27,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
