Unrivaled 3-on-3 Women's Basketball League to Launch in January 2025

The Unrivaled 3-on-3 women's basketball league, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to debut in January 2025. This innovative league will feature a minimum six-figure salary for players and an equity stake in the league, making it the highest average salary in women's professional sports league history.

The league will showcase 30 top women's basketball players across six teams, competing in a compressed full-court style of play. The season will run for eight weeks in Miami, providing a new platform for athletes to compete domestically during the WNBA offseason.

Unrivaled has attracted a star-studded group of investors, including Carmelo Anthony, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Steve Nash, and actor Ashton Kutcher. Former ESPN president John Skipper and ex-Turner Networks president David Levy will lead the league's media rights and sponsorship agreements.

Breanna Stewart highlighted the league's focus on player compensation: "For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income. With Unrivaled, we're revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay."

Napheesa Collier emphasized the league's potential to extend the visibility of women's basketball: *"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. Breanna and I set out to create a league that would change the way women's sports are viewed and in the process, how sports leagues operate. "*

The league's player-owned model is a significant departure from traditional sports leagues, offering athletes an equity stake and the chance to grow their generational wealth. *"It's really important to us. Compensation is a huge part of Unrivaled as a league and a business. All the players in this first year will have equity in the league. For players to have a piece of the pie, to grow their generational wealth is something we're really excited about,"* said Collier.

The league's format will include a 10-week competition window in Miami, with games played on a court about two-thirds the size of a WNBA floor. The season will feature a training camp before competitive play begins, and a break in the middle of the season for an All-Star-style event.

John Skipper and David Levy are optimistic about the league's potential. Skipper remarked, "I believe it's a good investment ... that David and I and the other group of investors have the chance to be on the ground floor of something that I think is going to be quite impactful."

The Unrivaled league aims to provide a lucrative alternative to playing overseas, which many WNBA players currently do to supplement their income. This new league offers a chance for players to stay stateside, maintain their health, and build their brand.

The league prepares for its inaugural season, promising to set a new standard for women's professional sports, with high salaries, equity stakes, and a focus on player investment. The full list of participants will be announced in the coming months.

Key Takeaways

• Unrivaled 3-on-3 women's basketball league debuts in January 2025.
• Minimum six-figure salary for players, highest average in women's sports.
• 30 top players across 6 teams, competing in 8-week Miami season.
• Star-studded investors, including Carmelo Anthony and Ashton Kutcher.
• Player-owned model offers equity stake, prioritizing player compensation.