The Key Points: Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell revealed in a recent SB Nation interview that the new 3v3 pro women’s basketball league has an impressive salary pool exceeding $8M, providing an average salary of $242K for the league’s 33 players (or $222K if all 36 spots are filled). This surpasses the WNBA’s current $214K max salary and does not include player equity or revenue sharing, which are valued in the millions.
🤝 Ally’s Support: Ally Financial is the league’s first and founding partner, with an investment amount not disclosed. Ally serves as a jersey patch sponsor for all six teams, a position that typically costs several million in the WNBA. Additionally, Ally features on in-arena signage and digital content spots.
📺 TNT Sports Partnership: In October, the league announced an exclusive multiyear broadcasting deal with TNT, covering more than 45 regular-season games across the Warner Bros. Discovery network and its Max streaming platform. TNT Sports has also directly invested in the league an undisclosed amount.
👟 Under Armour Collaboration: Under Armour has been announced as Unrivaled’s exclusive uniform partner and performance outfitter. Players, coaches, and staff will receive official UA merchandise, with players having access to custom products. Players without a current shoe deal will receive UA shoes, and Unrivaled merchandise will be available for sale at the league’s Miami arena.
Big Picture: Notably, the NBA offers marketers exposure through 1,230 regular-season games and a postseason spanning October to April. In contrast, the WNBA has 572 games during its May-September season, leaving a significant gap in exposure during the eight-month offseason. Offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited present brands with opportunities for expanded brand-building, as demonstrated by Ally’s strategic partnership with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
