A new professional women’s basketball league is coming to the United States, and it could change everything for the game’s top athletes. The Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart — former teammates at the University of Connecticut and two of the WNBA’s biggest stars — are launching Unrivaled, a three-on-three basketball league to take place in Miami during the WNBA offseason. The league will be player-owned and boast a minimum salary of $100,000, and will give players an opportunity to stay in the U.S. during the offseason rather than play overseas.
Details surrounding Unrivaled have been revealed in rolling fashion, and this week, Collier took to Twitter to answer fans’ questions and share more information about how everything will work. Here’s what we learned.
Which WNBA stars are playing in Unrivaled?
Unrivaled will include thirty of the biggest WNBA stars, and will notably be player-owned. Over the past few months, the league’s official Twitter account has been teasing information about participants and revealing names one by one in an effort to increase the buzz around the league.
Ten participants — all WNBA All Stars — have already been announced: Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Arike Ogunbowale (Wings), Chelsea Gray (Aces), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Rhyne Howard (Dream), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Jackie Young (Aces), and Angel Reese (Sky). Additionally, University of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers is slated to join in 2025.
Angel Reese’s participation could prove particularly beneficial for drawing attention to the league given her enormous following — Reese’s 3.8 million Instagram followers make her the most followed athlete in women’s basketball.
Angel is ✨a business woman✨& knows the power of ownership. This is the one investment as basketball players we can control. Angel is part of this group that’s bringing in a ton of viewership, she should have long term upside in the growth of basketball! Plus we’re in Miami… https://t.co/0vSii4tF7Q
—napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
“Angel is a business woman AND knows the power of ownership,” Collier said, via X. “This is the one investment as basketball players we can control.”
Collier also revealed four rookies (and counting) are set to play, though only Reese has been officially announced so far. Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Kate Martin, Rickea Jackson, and other top WNBA rookies could also be in the mix.
When and where will games be played?
Unrivaled will host two games in a row, three nights a week. Collier said that the league is in the final stages of media negotiations, but that “it will be very easy for fans to find us”, presumably on television or on a streaming platform.
The league will be based in Miami, but will go on tour to several cities throughout the season.
Collier also said the game length will be “normal basketball” rather than the Olympics’ 10-minute quarters. “That looks stressful and tiring,” she wrote.
Nah, that looks stressful and tiring Ours is gonna feel like normal basketball just with more spacing. 4 quarters, 2 subs on each team, and coaches. https://t.co/PnSyQG65FO
—napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
How will Unrivaled rosters be assembled?
Unrivaled will include six teams, with five players on each team. A selection committee will split teams by position and skill, and there will be player movement between teams similar to the WNBA, per Collier.
It doesn’t sound like the league’s co-founders will be paired up.
“Unfortunately Sunday may be the last time me and Stewie play together until National team starts back up again,” Collier wrote.
Each team will have a head coach, an assistant, and a team manager. Some coaches will be from the WNBA, while others won’t.
“We’ll have a good collection of experienced coaches,” Napheesa Collier wrote.
Where can people buy tickets?
Tickets will be announced in the fall on the official site, www.unrivaled.basketball. There will also be jerseys for purchase, Collier assured fans.
What’s the deal with the one-on-one tournament?
In addition to the three-on-three component, players will also compete in a single-elimination one-on-one tournament, with the winner receiving a minimum of $250,000.
