This week marks the return of professional women’s basketball, featuring a new league separate from the WNBA. While the jerseys and number of players on the court may vary, the action will still showcase top talent scoring layups, sinking deep shots, battling for rebounds, and delivering impressive assists. Notable players like Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, Napheesa Collier, and Brittney Griner are among the familiar faces in this new 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league named Unrivaled, founded by Stewart and Collier.
The inaugural season kicks off with two games in South Florida this Friday. Unrivaled was established to provide WNBA players with an alternative to playing overseas during the offseason. This new league offers players the opportunity to stay in shape, earn money, and enjoy a different style of play without having to travel abroad. In the past, many WNBA players, including Griner, have participated in foreign leagues during the offseason to supplement their income.
Griner, who had a difficult experience in Russia in 2022, highlighted the importance of Unrivaled in providing a homegrown offseason option. The league offers competitive salaries, with an average of $222,000 exceeding the supermax WNBA salary of approximately $214,000. With big-name investors such as Coco Gauff, Michael Phelps, and Giannis Antetokounmpo backing the league, Unrivaled has secured partnerships with brands like Samsung, State Farm, and Miller Lite, along with Under Armour as the uniform partner. Games will be easily accessible for viewers, streaming on MAX and airing on TNT and truTV.
Following a successful WNBA season in terms of audience growth, Unrivaled aims to capture attention with its fast-paced, position-less, pickup style of play. Games will take place in Miami on a larger court than Olympic 3-on-3 matches. Each game will consist of three seven-minute quarters, with a final period known as “the winning score.” This innovative concept involves adding 11 points to the leading team’s score to determine the winning total, creating an exciting finish reminiscent of playground basketball.
“There’s an 18-second shot clock, six fouls per player, and only one free throw awarded on shooting fouls. The first games tipping off Friday are Mystics vs. the Lunar Owls at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Rose vs. Vinyl at 8 p.m. ET. The Mystics are led by Stewart, the star of the WNBA’s reigning champs, and also feature Jewell Loyd and rookie Rickea Jackson. The Lunar Owls are powered by Lynx players Collier and Courtney Williams, and also include Skylar Diggins-Smith. Angel Reese is the star of the Rose roster that also boasts Chelsea Gray and Copper, while Vinyl features Arike Ogunbowale, Aliyah Boston, and a veteran of Team USA’s 3-on-3 team, Dearica Hamby. Two other teams in the mix are the Laces, which includes Jackie Young and Kate Martin, and Phantom, featuring Griner and Sabrina Ionescu.
Among the notable stars not playing in the upcoming Unrivaled league and taking a break during the offseason are WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark. Jonquel Jones and Kelsey Plum are also absent from the Unrivaled rosters. The Unrivaled league is set to commence on January 17 and will run through March 17, with each team playing 14 games, wrapping up just before the NCAA Tournament kicks off.
In February, the league will also host a one-on-one tournament where the victor will secure a $250,000 cash prize.”
– Mitchell Northam, Field Level Media
