What is Unrivaled? A new league that promises high pay and big stars

After winning a gold medal in the debut of three-on-three basketball in the 2021 Olympic Games, Kelsey Plum said she would no longer compete in the event, moving her international focus to five-on-five — a gamble that paid off, as Plum will represent Team USA in Paris on the five-on-five team.

Plum emphasized that she would continue to play three-on-three during her WNBA offseasons, however, as a way to stay sharp. “I have a ton of fun when I play, and it is a different feel in terms of the intensity and the pace,” Plum said. “It’s definitely something that I encourage everyone to try.”

The learning experiences from three-on-three helped vault Plum into one of the best players in the world, and in an interesting turn of events, the Olympian now finds herself playing it competitively once again, though not in the red, white and blue. Plum was announced on Monday as the sixth participant in Unrivaled, an American three-on-three league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart that is groundbreaking in its compensation structure. Unrivaled promises to give its players unprecedented pay and equity in the league as it pioneers a new model for women’s sports leagues in the U.S.

Can’t wait to get started! Tag who y’all think is getting announced next! https://t.co/u0dBtjl5la

— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) July 15, 2024

Player announcements began on July 9, and will continue until the 30-player league pool is full. The current roster is below.

What is Unrivaled?

Unrivaled is a new pro women’s three-on-three league that will tip off in January 2025. It promises to pay the highest average salary in women’s professional sports league history and will give equity in the league to its inaugural participants, enabling the athletes to profit from Unrivaled for years to come. The league was founded by WNBA superstars Collier and Stewart and has a long list of high-powered investors, including Alex Morgan, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Megan Rapinoe and former ESPN and Turner presidents John Skipper and David Levy.

As women’s sports spike in popularity, Collier has said that everyone is benefiting but the athletes themselves, as WNBA players are locked into a pay structure governed by a collective bargaining agreement. Unrivaled was created “on that principle that players deserve compensation and ownership that reflect their value,” Collier said.

GO DEEPER

New 3-on-3 league promises highest average pay in pro women’s basketball

How does Unrivaled fit into the women’s basketball landscape?

WNBA players historically have played overseas during the offseason to supplement their incomes from domestic salaries. However, playing year-round puts a strain on their bodies and requires personal sacrifices, such as missing holidays with their families. Being overseas also keeps WNBA players out of sight, and thus out of mind, for most of the year, hampering their marketability and the growth of the sport for months at a time.

The goal of Unrivaled is to keep the best players stateside to carry the momentum of one WNBA season into the next, which can only happen with the record-breaking salaries. The short three-on-three season will also keep players fresher heading into the WNBA calendar, ideally extending their careers in the process. The two leagues should work in concert with one another, as having All-Stars in the U.S. throughout the offseason will help promote the WNBA and optimize its product.

How will Unrivaled work?

The league will have 30 players split into six teams of five. They will play for eight weeks, which includes a round-robin regular season and playoffs featuring the top four teams in the standings. Miami will be the home base of Unrivaled, but the founders hope to take the league on the road during the regular season.

The format of Unrivaled is a modified 3×3 game. The international version is a halfcourt game played to 21. Unrivaled will instead be played on a compressed full court that is about 70 feet long, and games will be four quarters. The extra space is designed to give players room to showcase their skills and also reduce the wear and tear on their bodies.

Which players are participating?

Breanna Stewart

As one of the league’s co-founders, it came as no surprise when Stewart was officially announced as a player on July 9. Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP and four-time NCAA champion at UConn, has spent parts of past offseasons playing abroad. She most recently played for the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe during the spring of 2023.

Napheesa Collier

Like Stewart, Collier’s inclusion came as no surprise as she is also one of the league’s co-founders. The four-time All-Star with the Minnesota Lynx spent parts of this past offseason playing with Fenerbahçe, helping lead the club to a second consecutive EuroLeague title.

Chelsea Gray

A three-time WNBA champion, Gray is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in the world. She did not play overseas this past winter, rehabbing a lower leg injury she suffered with the Aces in the 2023 WNBA Finals. However, she has played abroad previously, including the 2022-23 season for the Turkish club Çukurova.

Arike Ogunbowale

Ogunbowale has made the WNBA All-Star team in four consecutive seasons with the Wings, and she has finished top five in scoring average in her first five seasons. She, too, has experience playing professionally in the winter, including suiting up for the Russian club Dynamo Kursk.

Jewell Loyd

Loyd has won two WNBA championships and made six All-Star games since being the Seattle Storm’s No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft. She last played overseas in the 2020 offseason with the Spanish club Perfumerias Avenida. She was the second Notre Dame alum announced to Unrivaled, joining Ogunbowale.

Kelsey Plum

Like Loyd and Stewart, Plum is another former No. 1 draft pick joining the league. She is also the second Aces player announced. Plum is a two-time WNBA champion and three-time All-Star. She last played abroad professionally in 2022, with Turkish club Galatasaray.

(Photo of Kelsey Plum: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)