Launched by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is a new professional 3X3 women’s basketball league set to kick off on January 17, 2025. This league allows WNBA players to stay in the United States during the off-season, allowing them to play and earn domestically instead of seeking income overseas.
Unrivaled will feature some of the best WNBA players in six teams, each comprising six players, with all games held in Miami. As the League prepares to roll out soon, here’s everything you need to know about the league.
Unrivaled teams and who’s playing for which team?
The co-founders of the league, Collier and Stewart, will play in different teams. With Collier playing for Team Lunar Owls, besides Skylar Diggins-Smith, Courtney Williams, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, and one of the two wild-cards, Cameron Brink, who will sit this season out because of her injury. Whereas, Stewart will play for Team Mist, with teammates Jewell Loyd, and Courtney Vandersloot. DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, and Aaliyah Edwards.
The other team with the other wild card is Team Phantom, which consists of Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, and Katie Lou Samuelson. Other than this, Team Laces got Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Kate Martin, and Stefanie Dolson. Whereas, Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Azurá Stevens, and Lexie Hull round out Team Rose. Team Vinyl consists of Arike Ogunbowale, Rae Burrell, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Jordin Canada, and Dearica Hamby.
These six teams will play in a round-robin format in the regular season, after that Top 4 teams of the league will advance into the playoffs.
How much will Unrivaled pay their players?
Collier and Stewart revealed that the players will be paid a minimum six-figure salary and the highest average salary in U.S. women’s professional sports. In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Collier said:
The principle of our league is that it’s the top talent, and women need to be paid accordingly. We need to be treated as professionals, and so that was a huge thing, is making sure that this is transformative, and something that’s new is we’re going to be paying players what they should be paid.
Unrivaled teams: The coaches leading the way
| Teams | Head Coach |
| Lunar Owls BC | DJ Sackmann |
| Phantom BC | Adam Harrington |
| Mist BC | Phil Handy |
| Laces BC | Andrew Wade |
| Rose BC | Nola Henry |
| Vinyl BC | Teresa Weatherspoon |
As these teams prepare for an exciting season, which team will you be rooting for? Tell us in the comments section!
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