BERLIN (Germany) - Anneliese Kupke, a 102-year-old resident, has become one of the most loyal supporters of ALBA Berlin, a basketball club that won the Bundesliga championship last season and aims for success in the Basketball Champions League in 2026-27. For the past 13 years, Kupke has made it a point to attend ALBA games, sharing her excitement with fellow fans, many of whom have been devoted to the club for decades.
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Anneliese’s passion for basketball dates back to her youth. "I played it myself as a young girl, back when it was called korbball," she told rbb.24. After the passing of her husband 13 years ago, she turned to basketball as a source of joy and connection. "I'm happy when it starts again because it gives me a change of pace. It's simply fun," she stated, reflecting on the thrill of the new season.
Last season saw ALBA clinch their 12th Bundesliga title after defeating Bayern Munich in the finals and reaching the Quarter-Finals of the Basketball Champions League.
At games, Kupke enjoys watching the team's emerging star, Jack Kayil, the BCL Young Player of the Year. However, her favorite player remains Justin Bean, who often interacts with her at games. "She always tells me to play hard, more aggressively," Bean said. "But she's also encouraging, saying that I played well, even if the result is bad." He recently signed an extension with the team, keeping him in Berlin until 2029.
While there have been other centenarian basketball fans, such as Sister Jean from Loyola University Chicago, who passed away at 106, and Helen "Sweetie" Brooks, a Golden State Warriors supporter who lived to 107, Anneliese Kupke stands out as a beloved figure in the ALBA Berlin community.