This WNBA off-season, fans were treated to the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the 3×3 basketball tournament created by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Their idea was simple yet powerful—addressing the pay disparity in the league by giving each founding member a stake in the tournament and a salary higher than what they were likely earning in the WNBA. Safe to say, it was a success. However, Unrivaled didn’t have the women’s sports biggest asset right now—Caitlin Clark. So will that be a problem for Unrivaled going forward?

Unrivaled kicked things off with $35 million in funding from investors and seed rounds. And according to ESPN, they nearly broke even in Year 1. Even better? They’re projected to turn a profit in Year 2. That’s a huge win for a brand-new league. That too without stars like Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson.

Napheesa Collier has made it clear what the future holds for Unrivaled. “We want this to be a league that will be here for generations,” she said. “This is our inaugural season, so we can’t do everything at once… but we do want to grow, just to a certain extent.”Year 2 of Unrivaled is set to bring even more excitement. The league will continue with its six clubs—Lunar Owls, Rose, Vinyl, Mist, Laces, and Phantom. But that’s not all. Around six to eight new players are expected to join the pool. One of them? Paige Bueckers. A major addition. As for Caitlin Clark? Her status is still up in the air.

Unrivaled made around $30 million in revenue, according to ESPN, double what officials had originally projected. A multi-year media rights deal with TNT and a range of corporate sponsorships, including Sephora, Ally, and Under Armour, likely played a huge role in this impressive figure. But it wasn’t just the big deals; the league’s front office also highlighted strong ticket and merchandise sales as key contributors to its success. All signs point to growth–and this might just be the beginning.

But what does all this mean for the WNBA? Does Unrivaled’s rise change anything for the league? That’s the big question. And it’s worth digging into. So, let’s take a closer look!

Does Unrivaled’s rise change anything for Caitlin Clark and the WNBA?

Unrivaled’s founders have made it clear—it’s not here to rival the W. Still, they know their presence could shift the game. Especially with CBA talks heating up after the WNBA players’ union opted out last October. The demands? Bigger paychecks, better maternity support, and smarter retirement plans. Oh, and a slice of equity too. Funny thing is–Unrivaled already checks all those boxes. The league is sticking with its promise–an average salary of $200,000. Infact , Unrivaled claims it’s the highest average salary in all of women’s team sports. That’s huge! But, it’s not here to become the rival of the WNBA– it’s here to raise the bar for women in sports.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert shares the same view–Unrivaled and the W aren’t exactly comparable. One plays 10 weeks with six teams. The other? A five-month grind with 13 teams (soon to be 16) and 44 games. “I’m really proud of what they’re doing,” Engelbert said of the new league. But she added, “We’ll have over 190 players to support. It’s a lot easier to manage 30 in one location.” A very valid point.

It will certainly be interesting to see if Caitlin Clark decides to enter the league–but one thing is certain! The Unrivaled doesn’t look like it’s going to fade away anytime soon– even without the presence of superstars like Clark and Wilson. And with Cameron Brink and Paige Bueckers set to join in Year 2? That’s a headline in itself.