Unrivaled is back, and its sophomore season is shaping up to be even bigger than its headline-grabbing debut. Founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league returns in January with an expanded field, a deeper talent pool, and some of the biggest names in the sport ready to take center stage once again.

After proving in Year 1 that elite women’s basketball can thrive during the WNBA offseason, Unrivaled is doubling down in 2026. Two new teams are joining the competition, rookies and rising stars are stepping into featured roles, and the league’s fast-paced, high-stakes format is set to deliver one of the most compelling stretches of basketball fans will see all season.

 What Is Unrivaled Basketball and Why Does It Matter?

WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart started Unrivaled in 2023. It is an innovative three-on-three professional women’s basketball league. Starting in January 2025, it will allow top female athletes to earn a substantial amount of money in the US during the WNBA offseason, thereby eliminating the need to play overseas. There are 36 players in the league, divided into six teams. They especially play on a small court, with three seven-minute quarters and an Elam Ending fourth quarter.

When Does the Unrivaled Basketball 2026 Season Start?

The Unrivaled Basketball 2026 season starts on Monday, January 5, 2026, with all eight teams playing their first games in Miami, Florida. The first game, Mist BC vs. Hive BC, starts at 1 p.m. ET on truTV. The regular season lasts about two months and ends on February 27, 2026. There are 56 games in total, and each team plays each other twice. The playoffs start on February 28, after the regular season ends. They will have six teams instead of the usual four, with semifinals on March 2, 2026. The championship game is the last game of the season. It will be on TNT on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET. Games are on four nights in a row, from Friday to Monday, with two games each night.

What Is the Full Unrivaled Basketball 2026 Schedule?

Unrivaled runs from Monday, January 5, to Wednesday, March 4, when a new champion is chosen. In the middle of February, there is a short break in regular games for the 1-on-1 tournament.

January 2026

February 2026

March 2026

Which Teams and Players Are Competing in Unrivaled 2026?

There are eight teams in Unrivaled for the 2026 season: Breeze, Hive, Laces, Lunar Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, and Vinyl. The best players on these teams include Paige Bueckers (Breeze), Napheesa Collier (Lunar Owls), Breanna Stewart (Mist), Kelsey Plum (Phantom), and Chelsea Gray (Rose). WNBA stars like Cameron Brink, Aliyah Boston, Brittney Griner, and Kelsey Mitchell will also be playing in an expanded league with new teams and development pools from January to March.

Breeze BC: Paige Bueckers, Rickea Jackson, Dominique Malonga, Aari McDonald, Kate Martin, Cameron Brink

Hive BC: Kelsey Mitchell, Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Natisha Hiedeman, Saniya Rivers, Monique Billings

Laces BC: Jackie Young, Brittney Sykes, Alyssa Thomas, Jordin Canada, Maddy Siegrist, Naz Hillmon

Lunar Owls BC: Skylar Diggins, Marina Mabrey, Napheesa Collier, Rachel Banham, Rebecca Allen, Aaliyah Edwards

Mist BC: Allisha Gray, Breanna Stewart, Alanna Smith, Veronica Burton, Arike Ogunbowale, Li Yueru

Phantom BC: Kelsey Plum, Satou Sabally, Aliyah Boston, Dana Evans, Natasha Cloud, Kiki Iriafen

Rose BC: Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Azurá Stevens, Sug Sutton, Lexie Hull, Shakira Austin

Vinyl BC: Courtney Williams, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Erica Wheeler, Rae Burrell, Brittney Griner

What’s the Game Format and How Are Matches Scored?

Unrivaled plays full-court 3-on-3 basketball on a compressed court that is 72 feet by 49.2 feet. There are three seven-minute quarters and a new Elam Ending fourth quarter that ends the game without overtime. The shot clock is 18 seconds, which is shorter than the WNBA’s 24 seconds. Free throws are worth 2 to 3 points, depending on the type of foul, which cuts down on stoppages. The “winning score” for a game is the leading team’s score in the third quarter plus 11 points. This makes the game pure basketball, where clutch moments are important. Players are disqualified after six personal fouls. If they have three or fewer left, any more fouls become technical fouls, which guarantees the end of the game. Unrivaled’s pace is much faster than regular basketball, and there are fewer free throws and more transition play, which is like pickup basketball.

What Time Are the Unrivaled 2026 Games Played? 

Unrivaled 2026 games will take place over four nights in a row, from Friday to Monday, with two games each night. During the weekend, games usually start at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT, with some evening games starting at 8:00–8:45 PM ET. In the early season and on certain dates, games start at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT.

How Can Fans Watch Unrivaled Basketball 2026 Live?

In the U.S., fans can watch the 2026 Unrivaled basketball season live on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max (with the B/R Sports Add-On). Fans in other countries can stream the games for free on the official Unrivaled YouTube channel. This 3×3 women’s league has both broadcast and streaming options.

What Are the Biggest Storylines Heading Into the 2026 Season?

Unrivaled will go through a lot of changes in 2026. With the addition of Breeze BC and Hive BC, the league grows from six to eight teams. A new six-player development pool with up-and-coming players like Hailey Van Lith will also help the league grow. The main story is about Paige Bueckers, the WNBA Rookie of the Year, making her Unrivaled debut as the captain of Breeze BC with Cameron Brink and Dominique Malonga. This makes for a roster full of young stars. Angel Reese, the 2025 champion with Rose BC, won’t be back because she’s still recovering from an injury. Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark are also still missing. These departures show how hard it is to pay people when rising stars put rest and recovery first.

Where Can You Buy Tickets for Unrivaled Basketball 2026?

You can buy tickets for Unrivaled 2026 on several sites, including the official Unrivaled website, Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, StubHub, and GameTime. Depending on where the seats are and which game is being played, prices range from $90 to $507 or more. Courtside seats are the most expensive. There are season ticket packages and VIP hospitality options, but the prices for 2026 weren’t released.

Unrivaled’s second season isn’t just about expansion or star power; it’s about momentum. With elite veterans, high-profile rookies, and a format built for nonstop intensity, the league is carving out a real identity during the WNBA offseason rather than simply filling calendar space. As the games tip off in January, Unrivaled has a chance to prove that its debut wasn’t a novelty, but the foundation of something sustainable, player-driven, and genuinely must-watch for basketball fans everywhere.