Unrivaled, the exciting new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, officially tipped off its inaugural season on January 17, 2025, at the Mediparo Arena located just outside Miami, Florida. Co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the league aims to provide female players with more domestic playing opportunities during the offseason, serving as a compelling alternative to international leagues.
On opening night, the league immediately showcased its potential with dramatic games, one featuring the Lunar Owls BC triumphing over the Mist BC 84-80. The Owls came from behind to secure victory, thanks to Skylar Diggins-Smith, who scored the game-winning 3-pointer, capping her night with 11 points. Napheesa Collier led the Lunar Owls with 27 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing her skills alongside her co-founder Stewart, who contributed 6 points and 14 rebounds for the Mist.
The newly formed league comprises six teams, including the Laces, Vinyl, Mist, Lunar Owls, Rose, and Phantom, with each team comprising six players. The Unrivaled regular season will run until March 16, 2025, featuring all games played primarily on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The league has also structured the competition to include each team playing 14 games, culminating with playoffs scheduled for mid-March.
The inaugural game marked the beginning of what promises to be an electrifying season, with fans treated to fast-paced action thanks to the league’s unique rule changes, which include 850-seat arenas, 7-minute quarters, and scoring systems inspired by the Elam Ending format. This approach keeps games highly competitive until the final moments.
Fans interested in watching the games have multiple options. The league has partnered with prominent networks like TNT and truTV for broadcast, and the entire season is also available for streaming on platforms such as Max, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV. For those opting for cable-free viewing, DirecTV Stream offers trials and promotional packages for new subscribers.
Beyond exciting gameplay, the Unrivaled league boasts one of the highest average salaries for women's professional sports, ensuring players earn $100,000 or more with equity ownership opportunities. With total salaries exceeding $8 million, players receive not just financial compensation, but also access to state-of-the-art training facilities.
The initial season features top players including Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu, and Brittney Griner, among others, which draws interest from fans both familiar with the WNBA and those new to women’s basketball. Each of the six teams consists of exceptional athletes who were drafted based on their strengths, divided among specific positional pods to balance the rosters effectively.
The full roster breakdown includes names such as:
- Lunar Owls BC: Shakira Austin, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Napheesa Collier, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink
- Phantom BC: Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson
- Vinyl BC: Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Dearica Hamby
- Mist BC: Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, Court Vandersloot
- Laces BC: Tiffany Hayes, Jackie Young, Alyssa Thomas
- Rose BC: Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese
While some notable players like Caitlin Clark have opted out this season to focus on their teams, the majority of talent participating is generating buzz as the league progresses. Fans are anticipating high-octane performances as they watch their favorite athletes battle for dominance.
The action-packed opening weekend promises to set the stage for what could be transformative to women’s sports, driving the narrative forward for female athletes. League co-founder Stewart shared her excitement, stating, “We worked really hard to get to this point, and I can’t wait to showcase what we’ve done.”