The basketball world is shaken up with the launch of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 professional league co-founded by Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. While the WNBA remains the premier professional basketball league for women, Unrivaled offers a new and creative alternative.
By operating exclusively in the WNBA offseason, Unrivaled complements rather than competes with the league, providing players with additional opportunities for income and development.
Historically, players have turned to international leagues, particularly in countries like Russia, Turkey, and China, where top athletes can earn lucrative salaries. However, this often comes at the cost of personal sacrifices, including extended time away from home, cultural adjustments, and extreme travel schedules. The league’s goal is to provide WNBA players with a domestic alternative to playing overseas during the offseason, offering players an opportunity to improve their skills and earn a significant income without leaving the U.S.
When speaking to CBS, Collier highlighted the significance of this development and said, “For a long time, going overseas was the only option that people had in their offseason, and so this is kind of changing the narrative around that and giving another option. Overseas is a great option for some players, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you can do to make money and play basketball and get better.”
The league has attracted 36 players, including prominent names like Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray and promising rookies Angel Reese and Aaliyah Edwards. However, some star players, such as Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum, opted out of this season. Plum explained her decision and said she chose not to participate in order to take more time for herself this offseason, despite initially being part of the league’s star studded line up.
The league introduces a unique style of play by focusing on 3-on-3 games held on a shortened court measuring 70 feet in length, compared to the WNBA’s 94 feet. Games consist of three seven-minute quarters and conclude with a new twist on the fourth quarter where the winning score is calculated by adding 11 points to the leading team’s total at the end of the third quarter.
This untimed final quarter eliminates overtime and ensures an exciting finish. The league also features a faster 18-second shot clock and streamlined foul rules, with players fouling out after six personals and free throws varying in value depending on the situation.
The season format includes six teams playing in schedule, with the top four teams advancing to single-elimination playoffs.
All games will take place at Unrivaled’s dedicated facility in Miami. Players are compensated, earning at least six-figure salaries along with equity in the league, creating a long-term financial benefit. With a salary fund exceeding $8 million, the average player salary is approximately $222,222, reflecting the league’s commitment to supporting athletes’ financial well-being.
Unrivaled’s inaugural season began on Jan. 17 and will run for eight weeks, with games scheduled on Monday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Broadcast rights are secured with TNT Sports, which will air games on TNT and truTV. Additionally, all games will also stream on Max.