Unrivaled is a women's professional three-on-three basketball league based in the United States.
Upcoming season or competition: 2025 Unrivaled season | |
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| Sport | Basketball (three-on-three) |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 6, 2023 |
| Founder | Napheesa Collier Breanna Stewart |
| First season | 2025 |
| President | Alex Bazzell |
| Commissioner | Micky Lawler |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Countries | United States |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida |
| TV partner(s) |
|
| Official website | Unrivaled |
History
editThe league was founded in 2023 by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, in part to allow 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. Unrivaled's inaugural season is slotted to begin in January 2025 in Miami, Florida.[1]
The league announced Breanna Stewart as the first signed player on July 9.[2] Also in July, Ally Financial was announced as Unrivaled's first and founding brand partner.[3][4] Ally will be the league-wide jersey sponsor, assist in media spending and negotiations, "activat[e] hospitality and fan engagement opportunities, and [appear] in online/digital content and in-arena signage."[3] In August, it was announced that Paige Bueckers had signed a name, image, and likeness deal with Unrivaled, with plans for Bueckers to make her Unrivaled debut in the 2026 season.[a][6]
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.[1][7] 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.[1][7][8] Also in May 2024, Unrivaled announced that they had closed their seed funding.[8] On October 24, the inaugural six team names were announced.[9]
Rules
editGames will be played on a full court with two ends, and consist of four, seven-minute quarters; as opposed to on a half-court, with a single, ten-minute period in FIBA 3x3 basketball competitions.[7] The size of the court is smaller in length than those used in the WNBA – measuring 70 ft (21 m) × 50 ft (15 m), instead of 94 ft (29 m) × 50 ft (15 m).[citation needed]
Organization
editAlex Bazzell, a renowned basketball skills coach and Collier's husband, is the first and current president of Unrivaled.[8] In June 2024, Micky Lawler, a former Women's Tennis Association president, was named the commissioner of the league.[10][11]
Teams
editTeams do not have geographic connections, although the branding was created with a consideration for potential future sale and relocation of the teams.[9] The rosters for each team are decided by a selection committee that sorts players based on their position and skill level.[1][12] Each team will have a head coach, an assistant coach, and a team manager.[13]
| Team | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|
| Laces BC | 2025 | TBA |
| Lunar Owls BC | 2025 | TBA |
| Mist BC | 2025 | TBA |
| Phantoms BC | 2025 | TBA |
| Rose BC | 2025 | TBA |
| Vinyl BC | 2025 | TBA |
Business
editPlayer salaries and revenue
editUnrivaled will offer 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.[8][14] Additionally to create an athlete-centric and player-owned league, Unrivaled will offer the 30 inaugural players equity in the league for at least the first year[7] with an "equity pool that will vest over a four-year period."[15] Players will also be provided local housing during the season with access to gym and practice facilities paid for by the league.[16]
Broadcasting
editThe 2025 season will be aired on TNT and TruTV, and streamed on Max.[17]
References
editNotes
Citations
- ^ a b c d Negley, Cassandra (May 30, 2024). "Unrivaled basketball league set to feature serious salaries and has the backing of some major names". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ @Unrivaledwbb (July 9, 2024). "STEWIE IS UNRIVALED 👑 1/30 ✅" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Unrivaled Scores With Ally Financial, the League's First and Founding Partner". PRNewswire (Press release). July 19, 2024.
- ^ Pelit, Asli (July 19, 2024). "Ally Becomes Founding Partner of Women's 3-on-3 League Unrivaled". Sportico. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Feinberg, Doug (August 12, 2024). "Paige Bueckers planning for future by joining new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, living in the present". Associated Press.
- ^ Anderson, Kari (August 1, 2024). "Paige Bueckers reportedly signs NIL deal with women's basketball league Unrivaled". Yahoo Sports.
- ^ a b c d "Former ESPN and Turner Chiefs Team Up to Bring 'Unrivaled' Women's Basketball League to Market". The Hollywood Reporter. May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b "Unrivaled unveils team names, branding". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ Schaefer, Rob (June 27, 2024). "Unrivaled names Micky Lawler as commissioner". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Shmerler, Cindy (August 13, 2024). "Micky Lawler, a Longtime Tennis Executive, Turns to Basketball". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ @PHEEsespieces (August 9, 2024). "There's a selection committee that splits the teams by position & skill..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @PHEEsespieces (August 9, 2024). "Every team will have a head coach, assistant and a team manager" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Dixon, Ed (May 31, 2024). "Unrivaled basketball league nets star-studded investment ahead of debut season". Sports Pro Media.
- ^ Jackson, Eric (May 30, 2024). "Alex Morgan, Carmelo, Nash Invest in 3-v-3 Women's Hoops League". Sportico.
- ^ "Unrivaled's Bazzell believes Micky Lawler is the right person to be commissioner". Sports Business Journal. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Alex, Weprin (October 16, 2024). "TNT Sports Gets Into Women's Basketball, Inks Rights Deal With Startup League Unrivaled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
