If you have not heard of Unrivaled buckle up —WNBA athletes are about to give basketball fans pure ethical hoops. Unrivaled is a three-on-three women’s basketball league created by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. The league will launch Friday, Jan. 17, and air on TNT starting at 6 p.m. CST.
The six teams that will compete are made up of six players on each team—featuring some of the biggest names in the W. WNBA All-Stars that will lace them up include Angel Reese, Jackie Young, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Arike Ogunbowale. Expect an even playing field as each team was strategically put together in an effort to raise competition levels and create an exciting brand of basketball.
The Unrivaled facilities are state of the art and features a venue in Miami where all 850 fans will have a courtside view of the games. The league raised 35 million dollars and garnered support from names like tennis superstar Coco Gauff, legendary college women’s basketball head coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma, former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.
“Coming to Unrivaled I knew what to expect. High standards from the top to bottom. I would stay here forever, everything I need is here—from massages to cold tubs, to being able to have resources, from workouts to everything. Just being able to be here and value women, it’s just really important right now especially with the growth of women’s basketball,” Reese said in her Unrivaled team’s presser.
Unrivaled also allows players to stay sharp during the WNBA offseason while being fairly compensated. Salaries for participating athletes are guaranteed to be over six figures, and they will have the opportunity to compete in a one-on-one tournament in February that will see the winner get paid a minimum prize of $250,000.
“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,” Collier tweeted in August 2024.
The three-on-three games will be played in four seven-minute quarters on a 70’-by-50’ court. Here is a breakdown of each team:
Mist
• Breanna Stewart (capt.)
• Jewell Loyd
• Courtney Vandersloot
• DiJonai Carrington
• Rickea Jackson
• Aaliyah Edwards
Coach: Phil Handy
Laces
• Alyssa Thomas (capt.)
• Jackie Young
• Tiffany Hayes
• Kayla McBride
• Kate Martin
• Stefanie Dolson
Coach: Andrew Wade
Rose
• Chelsea Gray (capt.)
• Brittney Sykes
• Kahleah Copper
• Lexie Hull
• Angel Reese
• Azurá Stevens
Coach: Nola Henry
Phantom
• Satou Sabally (capt.)
• Sabrina Ionescu
• Natasha Cloud
• Marina Mabrey
• Katie Lou Samuelson
• Brittney Griner
Coach: Adam Harrington
Vinyl
• Arike Ogunbowale (capt.)
• Jordin Canada
• Rhyne Howard
• Rae Burrell
• Aliyah Boston
• Dearica Hamby
Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Lunar Owls
• Napheesa Collier (captain)
• Skylar Diggins-Smith
• Courtney Williams
• Allisha Gray
• Cameron Brink
• Shakira Austin
Coach: DJ Sackman
A total of 14 games will be played by each team and the top four teams will advance to a single elimination semifinal in the playoffs. The winners of the semifinal games will compete for the championship that will take place Monday, March 17. When it is all said and done, the Mist Basketball Club will be hoisting the championship trophy.
