Unrivaled Is Fresh, Thrilling, and Powerful. Watch It.
Have you heard of this new league called Unrivaled?
Two months ago, I had no idea what it was—or, indeed, that it even existed. After learning about what this league is meant to accomplish and watching clips of its uniquely designed games, the hoops fan in me felt the excitement of discovery. Nay, rediscovery.
This is fresh. This is thrilling. This is powerful.
The idea of Unrivaled came to life over a glass of wine in a New York City restaurant. It was December 2022, and two WNBA stars—Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart—had decided to kick back, dine, and have a nice wintertime chat. Funny how things can get started over a drink or two, huh?
The two former teammates at UConn had brought along their respective partners: Phee’s husband Alex Bazzell and Stewie’s wife Marta Xargay. Naturally, the dinner conversation came around to the topic of family. As in, was there a way for WNBA players like Collier and Stewart to spend more time with their loved ones during their offseason preparations?
Since the early 2000s, WNBA players have competed in leagues based in Russia, Turkey, South Korea, and other countries to supplement the not-so-mindblowing income they’re getting from their mother league. Consider this: In the 2024-2025 NBA season, the average annual salary of NBA players is $12 million. WNBA players, meanwhile, averaged a yearly pay of $119,590 from their 2024 WNBA contracts. Let that sink in like a bottle of Merlot.
On an even more personal level, Phee had just given birth to her daughter seven months prior while Stewie was the mother of a one-year-old. The chatter then turned to a hypothetical—and, at the time, ludicrous—scenario: What if WNBA players could continue to make a living and stay sharp basketball-wise while staying geographically close to their families?
Convinced that there was a way to turn the imaginary into reality, Bazzell laid out a fully fleshed out concept for a new US-based women’s league. While it’s most likely that he and his wife had worked on this idea together, it should be noted that this man knows hoops very, very well. Bazzell, after all, is a reputed NBA and WNBA skills coach who has worked with the likes of Candace Parker, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and the late Kobe Bryant.
Not even a year after that dinner convo, Collier and Stewart announced that they would be establishing Unrivaled, a 3×3 women’s league featuring 30 incredible talents. Working alongside the two co-founders would be Bazzell, who was named the league’s first ever President.
Unrivaled was officially founded in July 2023. Several months later—or, more like, several investor calls, player announcements, cryptic Tweets, and promotional posts later—the league finally tipped off in a custom-made facility in Miami.
So what’s so special about Unrivaled? Check this out, gang.
Star Power
Want to see Angel Reese bully opponents in intense rebound battles? Itching to watch Sabrina Ionescu swish those gorgeous threes? Now you won’t have to wait till May to catch them—and many, many more WNBA stars—in action. The Unrivaled roster, which has now expanded to 36 spots plus relief players enlisted in place of injured competitors, is a well-balanced mix of grizzled vets, athletes in their prime years, and young studs.
When seasoned warriors like Skylar Diggins-Smith and Courtney Vandersloot go up against promising talents like Kate “Money” Martin and Lexie Hull, you know you’re in for a hardcourt spectacle. (And, for the record, I think it’s just a matter of time before Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson join in on the fun.)
Unique Format
In last week’s column, I mentioned that Unrivaled games are full court in scope. When you consider that only six players are on the floor at all times, you can imagine the distinct tactical adjustments that they’d have to make as they set aside the 5-v-5 mindset. The driving lanes are wider, spacing for outside shots is crazy, and the breadth of defensive coverage is extremely demanding, as there are less players to chase down a player on the fastbreak.
The pace is faster too, with the first three quarters lasting just seven minutes apiece. Eto na ‘yung exciting part: The fourth quarter is called “winning score” because, well, the game clock no longer matters. At the end of the third quarter, the winning score is determined by adding 11 points to the score of the team that’s ahead. With no overtime rule in place, the first team to hit or surpass that score gets the W.
Queen Things
The product televised on TNT is a breathtaking sight, but I’m just as impressed with what the league is doing for its players behind the scenes. In an article published on Sports Business Journal earlier this month, writer Tom Friend enumerated the following amenities in the Unrivaled facility: “an esthetician room for facials and skin care, rooms for family, a nursery and nursing, a 3,000-square-foot weight room, a content room for podcasts and interviews and six upscale locker rooms with power strips at every cubicle.” Now, those are queen things right there.
Oh, and did I mention that the $200,000 average player in Unrivaled’s first season is higher than the average pay of WNBA players in 2024? Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, your move.
There will always be disgruntled stars, so-called snubs, and teams jockeying for playoff position in the basketball world. I can talk about them some other time, but the thing is, something historic happened this month.
A new league was born, and I’m glad that I can use this platform to make one simple request.
Simoun says: Unrivaled is fresh, thrilling, and powerful. Watch it.
By the Numbers
80%
The shooting percentage of Mikey Williams from beyond the arc in Strong Group’s game against Al Nasr on Sunday. Williams, the wayward son of TNT Tropang Giga, hit four of his five outside attempts en route to a 16-point performance (second only to Chris McCullough’s 31 markers). So, um, when—and where—are we seeing you next, Mikey? Maybe somewhere with decent internet connection? If not, I guess you can find a bar with beer or gin.
16.6
The average winning margin of the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament. The Bullpups are undefeated right now at 3-0 and…okay who am I kidding, COLLINS AKOWE!!!!! (That’s my best impersonation of Kendrick Lamar yelling “MUSTAAARD.”)
Tweet of the Week
A godly voice narrating an immortal story.
Forever we remember these names: John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Ara Zobayan, Gigi Bryant.
You’re making me tear up, Kobe. As for my heart, Mamba in.