Unrivaled has wrapped up its first week, and this unique 3-on-3 basketball league didn’t just win fans’ hearts—it managed to grab eyeballs too, even outshining college football viewership at one point. While comparisons to the WNBA’s numbers were inevitable, fans seem to be judging every detail and are already demanding more from the league.

After a thrilling weekend, it’s clear this fast-paced format has hooked fans. Heading into Week 2, the Laces, Lunar Owls, and Vinyl sit pretty at 2-0, while the Mist, Phantom, and Rose are looking to recover from 0-2 starts. 

Day 1 kicked off with Napheesa Collier’s Lunar Owls’ comeback to beat Breanna Stewart’s Mist, thanks to two clutch triples from Skylar Diggins-Smith. Arike Ogunbowale’s Vinyl then took down Angel Reese’s Rose. Day 2 was equally exciting, with the Laces blowing past Phantom 86-48 and Lunar Owls defeating the Rose again in a nail-biter. Day 3 capped off the action with the Laces toppling Mist 63-43, while Vinyl took care of Phantom 84-71.

When it comes to viewership, the numbers speak volumes. The opening night games averaged 313,000 and 311,000 viewers on TNT and truTV, respectively, peaking at 364,000 viewers during the Lunar Owls’ fourth-quarter comeback. 

These weren’t just impressive numbers—they made history as the most-watched women’s basketball game on TNT. League President Alex Bazzell kept expectations grounded, saying, “We don’t expect to go get the same numbers the WNBA does. We’re just trying to deliver a great product, which I know we can do.”

Unrivaled managed to strategically avoid clashes with NBA games on Friday and the NFL on Saturday, but its Monday matchup went head-to-head with the College Football Playoff national championship. Despite the stiff competition, the league held its own. 

But as the Week 1 ended, Unrivaled has more demand on the table. Social media is lighting up with fans rallying for exclusive merch like clutch shirts, trading cards, and more.

Unrivaled fans demand more gear as the league’s popularity grows

Fans are getting impatient. One fan posted, “Why isn’t Unrivaled selling jerseys? They would sell out so quick!” And honestly, they’re right. Data provided by Fanatics shows that sales of WNBA merchandise across their network have skyrocketed by over 500%, especially after one season exploded in popularity. 

Unrivaled is already a hit from the get-go, so it’s clear that jerseys and other merch would fly off the shelves in no time. Another fan chimed in, “Even club shirts of some sort.” With six unique clubs, each with its own star players and exciting team combos, fans would definitely flock to buy their team’s gear. 

Fans are asking for trading cards too as one commented, “Or trading cards (yet)? I want many.” In 2024, WNBA Select cards sold out in just three minutes at $874 per box, a 500% price jump from the previous year. Collectibles are always a big deal, and sports fans love to show off their collection of rare items. So, it’s no surprise that they’re asking for Unrivaled cards to follow suit.

Then, there’s the frustration of one fan who pointed out, “They said they would in June and then just never did…” Per fans, Unrivaled had teased the release of jerseys but hasn’t followed through yet. With players already hitting the court, fans are left wondering where the promised merch is. 

Lastly, one fan made a great point, “They need to soon.” With the kind of growth Unrivaled is experiencing, they have a golden opportunity to build a loyal fanbase and increase revenue. Merchandise is an easy way to capitalize on that growth.

Bazzell made it clear that this league is also about entertainment, and that means keeping the fans engaged—not just with basketball, but with all the fun stuff that comes with being a part of the Unrivaled community.So, let’s see when those jersey sales drop.