With the demand for the WNBA at an all-time high, some players of the association united to create an additional women’s professional basketball league called the Unrivaled Basketball League. Co-founded by two-time WNBA Champion and league MVP of the New York Liberty Breanna Stewart and rising star Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Unrivaled is a thrilling new 3×3 basketball league set to kick off in Miami this January. So far, the league features six teams of five players each, and players will be divided based on their position and skill level. Collier also stated that some WNBA coaches will be involved as well.
In a May interview on Good Morning America, Stweart said the Unrivaled League will be unique in that it will be player-owned and will provide equity opportunities for participating players.
Additionally, it aims to offer the highest average salary in the history of women’s professional sports leagues. The league was co-founded by Stewart and Collier, with support from a notable group of investors that includes renowned figures such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Michelle Wie West, Ashton Kutcher, and Geno Auriemma.
“For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income,” Stewart said in a statement. “With Unrivaled, we’re revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay.”
“With the growing popularity of women’s basketball and the WNBA, this is an opportunity for us to extend our visibility into the traditional basketball season,” Collier added in a statement. “Breanna and I set out to create a league that would change the way women’s sports are viewed and ultimately how sports leagues operate. We may have had the vision, but this isn’t just our league — it belongs to the players, and the Unrivaled model reflects that.”
The Unrivaled League will also give the players of the W an option to play domestically during the WNBA’s offseason rather than going overseas to complement their salaries.
Angel Reese, the rising star of the Chicago Sky and one of the four rookies participating in the Unrivaled League is thrilled about the opportunity to play in the stats and be compensated during the off-season.
“Being able to be in Miami from January to March, not having to go overseas,” Reese said. “Nobody wants to go overseas. A lot of us never wanna have to go overseas, but some people do have to go overseas unfortunately, so being able to make six figures within three months, being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better.
Reese, who was the seventh pick overall pick, finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting averaging 13 points on 4o percent shooting and 13 rebounds. She also finished as the WNBA’s all-time leader in total rebounds (446) and offensive rebounds (172) in a single season.
“Being able to know two great players that are starting something, I think it’s amazing,” continued Reese. “3-on-3 is something that I love to do, I haven’t been able to play competitively but I think I can work on some of my individual skills because 3-on-3 exposes everything. So I’m excited for it.”
The upcoming season is scheduled to last for eight weeks, commencing this January. Currently, there are 30 players involved, and will play 3-on-3 in a compressed court setting. Reports from Sports Illustrated indicate that the league is providing an average salary of $250,000 to prospective players.
John Skipper, the co-founder of Meadowlark Media and former president of ESPN, and David Levy, the co-founder and co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences and former Turner president, will be involved in managing the league’s media rights in addition to serving as investors.
Many of the WNBA’s top players, such as Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Kahleah Copper, and more, have already committed to playing in the Unrivaled League.
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks will secure another rookie roster spot, leaving two more spots available for rookies, with a total of eight spots.
Last month, Sparks head coach Curt Miller pointed out Jackson’s rising popularity in Los Angeles.
“She brings us a lot of buzz as part of this new generation of players,” Miller said. “And so she gets the loudest applause when we do the starting lineups out in LA. She’s really, really popular.”
In her rookie campaign, the fourth overall pick averaged 12.6 points on 46.6 percent shooting. Of the three rookies averaging double-figure points — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Jackson — Jackson has been the most efficient. She’s also shot 37.2 percent from three-point range.
“She is really, really special at the offensive end, and is only going to get better,” Miller said. “She now has the confidence, and she knows she has the green light to not hesitate. She’s in a groove right now shooting the three, and it’s really fun to see that just makes her even more dynamic. She’s going to be a special one, and we’re all seeing it — we’re all seeing the growth.”
The full list of Unrivaled Basketball League now includes:
Allisha Gray (Dream)
Angel Reese (Sky)
Arike Ogunbowale (Wings)
Breanna Stewart (Liberty)
Brittney Sykes (Mystics)
Chelsea Gray (Aces)
Courtney Vandersloot (Liberty)
Dearica Hamby (Sparks)
DiJonai Carrington (Sun)
Jackie Young (Aces)
Jewell Loyd (Storm)
Kahleah Copper (Mercury)
Kayla McBride (Lynx)
Kelsey Plum (Aces)
Marina Mabrey (Sun)
Napheesa Collier (Lynx)
Natasha Cloud (Mercury)
Rhyne Howard (Dream)
Rickea Jackson (Sparks)
Satou Sabally (Wings)
Skylar Diggins-Smith (Storm)
Shakira Austin (Mystics)
The Unrivaled League currently has representation from every WNBA team except the Indiana Fever. Out of the eight remaining spots, there is a chance for one of the Fever’s three All-Stars – Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, or Aliyah Boston – to secure a place in the league.
