Unrivaled (basketball)

Unrivaled
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2026 Unrivaled season
SportBasketball (three-on-three)
FoundedJuly 6, 2023 (2023-07-06)
FounderNapheesa Collier
Breanna Stewart
First season2025
PresidentAlex Bazzell
CommissionerMicky Lawler
No. of teams8
CountriesUnited States
HeadquartersMiami, Florida
Most recent
champion
Mist BC
Most titlesRose BC
Mist BC
(1 title each)
Broadcasters
WebsiteUnrivaled

Unrivaled is a women's three-on-three basketball league in the United States.[1] The league was founded in 2023 and played its inaugural season in 2025.[2]

History

The league was co-founded in 2023 by basketball players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, in part to allow Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) players to play domestically and to bypass complications from the WNBA's prioritization rule for players who choose to play overseas in the WNBA offseason.[3] Early investors in the league included former ESPN president John Skipper and the former president of Turner Broadcasting, David Levy.[2] The league announced Stewart as the first signed player on July 9, 2024.[4]

Unrivaled's inaugural season began on January 17, 2025, in Medley, Florida, near Miami,[5] with plans for the 2026 season to have games played across the U.S.[6] On February 8, 2025, a game between Laces BC and Vinyl BC had to be cancelled because of a lack of available players due to injuries.[7][8] The league's first one-on-one single-elimination tournament, which took place from February 10 to 14, 2025, was won by Collier.[9] The league's first championship was won by Rose BC on March 17, 2025.[10] In September 2025, Unrivaled announced two new teams, Hive Basketball Club and Breeze Basketball Club, bringing its total to eight teams.[11]

Ahead of its second season, the league added a dedicated athletic trainer and a player development coach to each team. Its arena would have 25% more seats. It also added a fourth night of games and eliminated back-to-back game days. Contests would be played on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, with games airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.[11]

The league's second season began on January 5, 2026,[8] with a lineup of 54 players, including more than a dozen first-time players, such as Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers. As of 2026, more than three-quarters of Unrivaled's players were signed to multi-year deals.[11]

Unrivaled had originally planned to expand in 2027, rather than in 2026, but president Alex Bazzell (who is married to Collier) said plans changed due to the league outperforming its financial projections.[8]

On January 30, 2026, a league game in Philadelphia set a record for the highest attendance of any professional women's basketball regular-season game, with a total attendance of 21,490.[12] In February 2026, it was announced that Unrivaled would be moving it semifinals to Barclays Center after making $2 million in revenue at the January game in Philadelphia.[13] The league's second championship was won by Mist BC on March 4, 2026.[14]

Rules and regulations

Games are played on a full court with two ends, and consist of three seven-minute periods followed by a "winning score" fourth period played under Elam Ending conditions.[15][a] In Unrivaled's implementation, a "winning score" is determined by adding 11 points to the leading team's (or tied teams') score at the end of the third period. The game then continues with no game clock but with an active shot clock, and the first team to reach or exceed the "winning score" wins.[17]

The court is a compressed full court billed as 72 feet long by 49.2 feet wide. The width is slightly less than that of courts in the WNBA, 49.2 feet versus 50 feet, while the length is noticeably shorter, 72 feet instead of 94 feet. It is slightly larger than courts used for 3x3 basketball competitions in the Olympics, which is a half court with a 36-foot by 49-foot surface area.[18]

The shot clock in Unrivaled is shortened to 18 seconds for full possession (less than the WNBA's 24 seconds and college basketball's 30 seconds).[18][19] The game clock only stops on baskets made in the final 30 seconds of a period.[18][17]

Another change made in Unrivaled is to free throws resulting from personal fouls. Players are awarded one free throw after being fouled, with a successful free throw worth two points if fouled on a two-point shot or three points for a three-point shot.[19] Free throws earned when fouled on a made basket are worth one point, as in the WNBA.[19] Players will foul out after six personal fouls.[18] However, if a team only has three remaining available players, no one will foul out.[19] Instead, the player left on the court with six personal fouls will be given a technical foul and give the opposing team a one-point free throw opportunity.[19]

League format

The season includes nine weeks of total play, including playoffs. The teams play in a round-robin schedule. The top four teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season make the playoffs.

Unrivaled features a 1-on-1 single elimination tournament played in February to determine the best 1-on-1 player in the world.

Teams

On October 24, 2024, the inaugural six team names were announced.[20] Teams do not have geographic connections, although the branding was created with a consideration for potential future sale and relocation of the teams.[20] The rosters for each team are decided by a selection committee that sorts players based on their position and skill level.[5][21] Each team has a head coach, an assistant coach, and a team manager.[22]

For the 2026 season, the inaugural six clubs returned with the addition of two new clubs, Breeze BC and Hive BC, and a formal player development pool.[23] Adding two teams opened up 12 new roster spots.[8]

Teams and head coaches

Overview of Unrivaled teams – 2026 season
Team Joined Current head coach[24]
Breeze BC 2026 Noelle Quinn
Hive BC 2026 Rena Wakama
Laces BC 2025 Andrew Wade
Lunar Owls BC 2025 DJ Sackmann
Mist BC 2025 Zach O'Brien
Phantom BC 2025 Roneeka Hodges
Rose BC 2025 Nola Henry
Vinyl BC 2025 Teresa Weatherspoon

Business

Finances and sponsorships

In May 2024, it was announced that John Skipper, a former ESPN president, and David Levy, a former Turner president, had invested in Unrivaled and would be at the helm of the league's media rights and sponsorship sales.[5][16] Other notable early investors include Koby Altman, Carmelo Anthony, Geno Auriemma, Moira Forbes, Desiree Gruber, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Ashton Kutcher, Alex Morgan, Steve Nash, Megan Rapinoe, Richard and Ann Sarnoff, Dan Rosensweig, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Michelle Wie West.[5][16][25] Also in May 2024, Unrivaled announced that they had closed their seed funding.[25] In December 2024, the league announced that their Series A round had closed with a new total capital of $35 million and included new investors such as Dawn Staley, JuJu Watkins, Michael and Nicole Phelps, Rip Hamilton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.[26][27] In January 2025, Coco Gauff also announced her investment in Unrivaled.[28] At the end of Unrivaled's inaugural regular season, the league announced that NBA All-Star, Stephen Curry, had also joined as an investor.[29]

In July 2024, Ally Financial was announced as Unrivaled's first and founding brand partner.[30][31] In December 2024, Under Armour was announced as the league's "official uniform partner and performance outfitter."[32] Under Armour will provide performance apparel and accessories and also provide players without conflicting brand deals access to their footwear line and opportunity to create custom merchandise.[32]

Unrivaled partners and sponsors
Company Joined Role Ref.
Ally Financial July 2024 Founding brand partner and jersey sponsor [30][31]
TNT Sports October 2024 Exclusive media rghts partner [33]
Mediapro North America November 2024 Production and hosting partner [34]
State Farm Presenting sponsor for 2025 Club Selection Show
Home and auto insurance partner		 [35]
Wilson Sporting Goods December 2024 Official ball manufacturer [36]
Under Armour Uniform partner and performance outfitter [32]
Ticketmaster Official ticketing partner
Miller Lite Official beer partner [37]
Vistaprint January 2025 Official print and design partner [38]
Sephora Official beauty partner [39]
Samsung Galaxy Official technology and presenting partner [40]
IcyHot Official recovery partner [41]
Sprite Presenting partner of 2025 1v1 Tournament [42]
BODYARMOR Official sports drink [42]
Wayfair Official home furnishing partner
Namesake of Unrivaled 2025 Arena		 [43]
Opill
Morgan Stanley Official wealth and asset management partner [44]
Mount Sinai Medical Center Official medical provider [45]
Therabody [46]

Player salaries, revenue, and amenities

Unrivaled offers players in the league contract opportunities to receive the highest average salary in U.S. women's professional sports, and a minimum six-figure salary.[25][47] In December 2024, the president of Unrivaled, Alex Bazzell, announced that the league's total salary pool for the 2025 season was $8 million.[48][b] The winner of the 2025 1v1 mid-season tournament would earn a minimum of $250,000.[49][50]

To create an athlete-centric and player-owned league, Unrivaled will offer the inaugural players equity in the league for at least the first year,[16] with an "equity pool that will vest over a four-year period."[51]

For the 2025 season, players lived in a Miami apartment building (about five minutes away from the main facility) with access to gym and practice facilities, paid for by the league.[48][52]

Name, image, likeness

In August 2024, it was announced that Paige Bueckers had signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Unrivaled, with plans for Bueckers to make her Unrivaled debut in the 2026 season.[c][54] On April 13, 2025, the day before Bueckers was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, she signed a three-year deal to play in Unrivaled, with the first year of her Unrivaled contract reportedly paying her more than her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract.[55] In December 2024, Unrivaled announced that Flau'jae Johnson had also signed a similar deal to Bueckers' with the league.[56]

On July 21, 2025, Unrivaled announced the signing of 14 of the best college basketball players to NIL deals as part of "The Future is Unrivaled Class of 2025". The group includes Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Madison Booker, Audi Crooks, Azzi Fudd, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, Ta'Niya Latson, Olivia Miles, Kiki Rice, Sarah Strong, Syla Swords, and JuJu Watkins.[57]

Unrivaled leadership

Alex Bazzell, a renowned basketball skills coach and Collier's husband, is the first president of Unrivaled.[25] In June 2024, Micky Lawler, a former Women's Tennis Association president, was named the commissioner of the league.[58][59] On November 11, 2024, Clare Duwelius (former general manager of the Minnesota Lynx) was announced as executive vice president and general manager of the league and Luke Cooper, the president of basketball operations.[60]

Broadcasting

The 2025 season aired on TNT and TruTV, and streamed on HBO Max in the United States.[61]

Notes

  1. ↑ This differs from FIBA 3x3 basketball competitions, which use a half-court and a single 10-minute period, with the possibility of overtime.[16]
  2. ↑ making the average salary per player around $222,222
  3. ↑ At the time of signing, Bueckers had two more years of NCAA eligibility. She was expected to end her college career after the 2024–25 season and make her Unrivaled debut after the 2025 WNBA season.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Unrivaled | Official Site of the Unrivaled Basketball League". www.unrivaled.basketball. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Dixon, Ed (January 6, 2026). "Breaking down the growing business behind Unrivaled". SportsPro. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  3. ↑ Pickman, Ben (March 15, 2025). "Here are four ways Unrivaled could change the WNBA". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ @Unrivaledwbb (July 9, 2024). "STEWIE IS UNRIVALED 👑 1/30 ✅" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  5. 1 2 3 4 Negley, Cassandra (May 30, 2024). "Unrivaled basketball league set to feature serious salaries and has the backing of some major names". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Jenn. "Unrivaled League Surpasses Financial Projections, Expands Roster To 36". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 2, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  7. ↑ Maloney, Jack (February 8, 2025). "Unrivaled basketball league: Laces BC vs. Vinyl BC canceled in order to 'prioritize player health and safety'". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Maloney, Jack (January 5, 2026). "2026 Unrivaled preview: Everything to know about rosters, expansion, schedule and pay as season two tips off". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Collier takes home $200K, Unrivaled 1-on-1 crown". ESPN.com. February 15, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Rose beat Vinyl in the Unrivaled championship game, capping the inaugural season of the women's 3-on-3 basketball league". Yahoo Sports. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 Pickman, Ben (January 5, 2026). "What to know about Unrivaled women's basketball league as its second season tips off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  12. ↑ Merchant, Sabreena (January 31, 2026). "Unrivaled breaks attendance record for professional women's basketball with Philadelphia tour stop" – via NYTimes.com.
  13. ↑ Costabile, Annie (February 13, 2026). "Unrivaled Leans In to NBA Arenas After Making Millions in Philly". Front Office Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Stewart drops 32 as Mist overcome Plum's 40 to win Unrivaled title". ESPN. March 4, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ @Unrivaledwbb (January 17, 2025). "The stage is set! Here are the rules!" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Former ESPN and Turner Chiefs Team Up to Bring 'Unrivaled' Women's Basketball League to Market". The Hollywood Reporter. May 30, 2024. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Andrews, Kendra (January 15, 2025). "What is Unrivaled? Rules, rosters for new basketball league". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 McGregor, Gilbert (January 17, 2025). "Unrivaled basketball rules, explained: Biggest 3-on-3 differences vs. WNBA, including shot clock, 'winning score' | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Maloney, Jack (January 17, 2025). "What are the rules of the new Unrivaled basketball league? How the 3-on-3 games will work". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Unrivaled unveils team names, branding". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ @PHEEsespieces (August 9, 2024). "There's a selection committee that splits the teams by position & skill..." (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  22. ↑ @PHEEsespieces (August 9, 2024). "Every team will have a head coach, assistant and a team manager" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  23. ↑ Andrews, Kendra (September 10, 2025). "Unrivaled adding two teams for 2026, bringing total to 8". ESPN. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  24. ↑ Unrivaled Basketball [@Unrivaledwbb] (October 30, 2025). "The 2026 head coaches are SET 👀 Welcome to season 2 👑" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  25. 1 2 3 4 Rizzo, Lillian (May 30, 2024). "New basketball league Unrivaled lands star-studded investor lineup, aims to pay highest average salary in women's pro league sports". CNBC. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  26. ↑ @Unrivaledwbb (December 16, 2024). "We at Unrivaled are so incredibly grateful to our stellar investors for their contribution to the league 🩵💜" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  27. ↑ Zucker, Joseph (December 16, 2024). "Giannis, Michael Phelps, JuJu Watkins Among Investors in Unrivaled Basketball League". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  28. ↑ Hadley, Taylyn (January 6, 2025). "Coco Gauff Invests in Unrivaled Basketball League, Hopes to 'Uplift Women's Sports'". The Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  29. ↑ Deen, Safid (March 11, 2025). "Stephen Curry is latest star to invest in Unrivaled. New league has generated $35M". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  30. 1 2 "Unrivaled Scores With Ally Financial, the League's First and Founding Partner". PRNewswire (Press release). July 19, 2024. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  31. 1 2 Pelit, Asli (July 19, 2024). "Ally Becomes Founding Partner of Women's 3-on-3 League Unrivaled". Sportico. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 Fonrauge, Gabrielle (December 10, 2024). "Women's basketball league Unrivaled signs uniform deal with Under Armour". CNBC. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  33. ↑ "TNT Sports and Unrivaled Reach Multi-Year Media Partnership Beginning in January 2025". Unrivaled. October 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Unrivaled Partners with Mediapro North America to Create One-Stop-Shop in Miami for Inaugural Season". Unrivaled. November 13, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  35. ↑ Young, Grant (November 18, 2024). "Fans Suspect Unrivaled Sponsorship Could Forecast Caitlin Clark Involvement". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Unrivaled Announces Partnership with Wilson". Unrivaled. December 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  37. ↑ @Unrivaledwbb (December 17, 2024). "We are happy to officially announce Miller Lite as our Official Beer Partner for the 2025 inaugural season! 🍻👑" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  38. ↑ "Unrivaled Announces VistaPrint as Presenting Partner of the Mist Basketball Club and the League's Official Print and Design Partner". Unrivaled. January 2, 2025. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  39. ↑ Grant, Shawn (January 4, 2025). "Unrivaled Partners with Sephora as Exclusive Beauty Sponsor". The Source. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Samsung Galaxy Continues to Push Boundaries – Becoming the Presenting and Official Technology Partner of Unrivaled" (Press release). Samsung News. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Icy Hot Signs on as Official Recovery Partner of Unrivaled" (Press release). PR Newswire. January 14, 2025. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  42. 1 2 Friend, Tom (January 15, 2025). "Unrivaled adds Sprite, BodyArmor as sponsors ahead of launch". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  43. ↑ Friend, Tom (January 16, 2025). "Wayfair scores naming rights to Unrivaled arena". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  44. ↑ Dalzell, Noa (January 17, 2025). "Unrivaled keeps announcing high-profile partnerships as gameplay set to begin". SB Nation. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Unrivaled Announces Mount Sinai Medical Center as the League's Official Medical Partner". Unrivaled. February 21, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  46. ↑ Unrivaled Basketball [@Unrivaledwbb] (March 14, 2025). "Only the best for the best 👑 thank you @therabody for helping keep our athletes healthy all season long!" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  47. ↑ Dixon, Ed (May 31, 2024). "Unrivaled basketball league nets star-studded investment ahead of debut season". Sports Pro Media. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  48. 1 2 Deen, Safid (January 16, 2025). "Unrivaled basketball stars praise league ahead of debut: 'This is what women deserve'". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  49. ↑ @PHEEsespieces (August 9, 2024). "So it's a single elimination tournament to determine the best 1v1 player in the world. And I'm ACTUALLY not supposed to say this but…first place gets minimum $250k 💰🤑" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  50. ↑ Leahy, Sean (October 31, 2024). "Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league expands to 36 roster spots ahead of debut season". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  51. ↑ Jackson, Eric (May 30, 2024). "Alex Morgan, Carmelo, Nash Invest in 3-v-3 Women's Hoops League". Sportico. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Unrivaled's Bazzell believes Micky Lawler is the right person to be commissioner". Sports Business Journal. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  53. ↑ Feinberg, Doug (August 12, 2024). "Paige Bueckers planning for future by joining new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, living in the present". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  54. ↑ Anderson, Kari (August 1, 2024). "Paige Bueckers reportedly signs NIL deal with women's basketball league Unrivaled". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  55. ↑ Andrews, Kendra (April 13, 2025). "Paige Bueckers to sign 3-year deal with Unrivaled". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  56. ↑ Young, Grant (December 5, 2024). "Flau'jae Johnson Joins Paige Bueckers With Unrivaled NIL Deal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  57. ↑ "Unrivaled | Official Site of the Unrivaled Basketball League". www.unrivaled.basketball. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  58. ↑ Schaefer, Rob (June 27, 2024). "Unrivaled names Micky Lawler as commissioner". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  59. ↑ Shmerler, Cindy (August 13, 2024). "Micky Lawler, a Longtime Tennis Executive, Turns to Basketball". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Professional Women's Basketball League 'Unrivaled' Names Clare Duwelius as Executive Vice President and General Manager". Sports Business Journal (Press release). November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  61. ↑ Alex, Weprin (October 16, 2024). "TNT Sports Gets Into Women's Basketball, Inks Rights Deal With Startup League Unrivaled". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
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