Unrivaled, a new 3×3 professional basketball league, kicks off on January 17th. Launched by six-time WNBA All-Star Brenna Stewart and four-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier in July 2023, the league will showcase 30 top women basketball players.
The Unrivaled league will feature 30 players split into six teams, competing on a condensed full court. The six teams are: The Laces, Luna Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, and Vinyl.
Let’s delve into the TV deal for the Unrivaled Basketball League:
What is the Unrivaled basketball league TV deal?
The Unrivaled league, created to provide women with an alternative to playing overseas during the offseason, secured an exclusive multi-year media rights agreement with TNT Sports.
According to the Sports Business Journal, the deal is “a guaranteed three-year contract with a three-year WBD option that could increase the total value to around $100M over six years.”
The partnership between the Unrivaled league and TNT Sports was revealed on October 16th. In a press release, they mentioned that the deal will bring:
“Sustained stability and financial security for all players and stakeholders through at least 2028.”
The collaboration entails:
Live game coverage exclusively on TNT (Mondays and Fridays), truTV (Saturdays), and Max. Over 45 primetime regular season games per week. Additionally, there is an undisclosed financial investment.
The deal is mutually beneficial for TNT as they aim to capitalize on the increasing popularity of the women’s game. With their NBA contract wrapping up by the end of the 2024-25 season, Unrivaled will offer additional basketball coverage.
Who is participating in the Unrivaled basketball league?
The league is structured with six teams, each consisting of five players. The teams include: the Laces, Lunar Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, and Vinyl.
Some of the notable players involved are the founders, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, along with Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, Aliyah Boston, and Sabrina Ionescu, who joined on December 23rd.
Efforts were made to recruit reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, although both declined participation. Despite this, the tournament is proceeding as planned, ushering in a new era for women’s basketball.
Edited by Brad Taningco
