It was the summer of 2023 when Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart declared that going overseas shouldn’t be the only option. CBA prioritization rules had just sparked disagreements. Playing year-round and across the globe was resulting in mental and physical fatigue. And after Brittney Griner’s detention, players would rather look for other off-season options. So instead of looking around for a solution, the UConn duo decided to be one themselves.

“It’s the ability for players to stay home, to be in a market like Miami where we can just be the buzz and create that with the best WNBA players,” Stewart had said, still looking for sponsors. Two years in, and the league they had dreamt of has gotten off the ground better than they had hoped.

What is Unrivaled Basketball League?

Unrivaled is a player-founded 3×3 women’s basketball league, created by Collier and Stewart. Built with the vision of providing athletes a competitive offseason platform and a substantial payday, the league reimagines the game in a way that is player-friendly and fan-focused.

The league is played on a condensed full court measuring 72 feet long and 49.2 feet wide, shorter than international standards. Games open with three fast-paced, seven-minute quarters before shifting into a dramatic “winning score” finish. Instead of watching the clock tick down, fans watch teams race toward a target—11 points added to the leader’s total after three quarters. Just pure, high-stakes basketball until the final bucket.

Unrivaled’s rulebook also takes a bold departure from the norm, especially at the free-throw line. No matter where the foul happens (on a layup or beyond the arc), players shoot just once. That single attempt counts for two points for a foul on a 2-point field goal or three points if the foul occurred on a 3-point attempt. If the basket goes in and the foul is called, the free throw adds one more.

Discipline plays a big role, too. Players are disqualified after six fouls, but with only three teammates on the floor, there’s no subbing out. Instead, the player stays in the game, and every extra foul becomes an automatic technical. The pace is equally relentless: an 18-second shot clock keeps possessions moving, and in crunch time, the clock only stops on made shots in the final 30 seconds of each period.

Who are the key backers of Unrivaled?

As noted earlier, Unrivaled was founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, but its backing reaches far beyond women’s basketball. The initial group included the likes of Stephen Curry, Dawn Staley, Coco Gauff, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carmelo Anthony, and Michael Phelps among others. The lot had contributed to a tally of about $35 million for the inaugural season. And reports reveal that the new league almost broke even with a revenue of $30 million.

The success has now welcomed a new group for Series B investment. This one includes Trae Young, sports executive Sam Rapoport, University of Maryland president Darryll J. Pines, and among the most notable names– Serena Williams. The players-first league has received the wide-spread nods not just not for better pay, but also facilities, equity, and resources also focusing on athlete-mothers.

How much is Unrivaled worth? Inside the $340M valuation

According to reports, Unrivaled’s Series B funding has catapulted the league’s valuation to $340 million—up from just $95 million a year ago. This rise underscores the league’s massive growth potential and the confidence investors have in its future. The numbers back it up.

In its debut season, with stars like Angel Reese playing, Unrivaled drew 11.9 million viewers and reached 589 million impressions across social media With rumors swirling about Caitlin Clark potentially joining in the second season, the league’s value—and its visibility—is poised to climb even higher, making it one of the most exciting ventures in women’s sports today.

When is Unrivaled launch, and how will it work?

Unrivaled was officially announced on July 6, 2023, with its first-ever game tipping off on January 17, 2025. The debut season was held entirely at MediaPro Center in Medley, Florida, just outside Miami, but plans are already in motion to expand the league nationwide for the 2026 season.

In 2025, 36 players competed in the league, and that number is set to grow to 42 in the following year. The league currently features six teams, each with six players. Once the participating athletes were confirmed, coaches in Miami divided them into six “pods” and drafted one player from each pod to build their teams. Adding a unique twist, coaches were unaware of which team they would ultimately manage, ensuring fairness, eliminating favoritism, and keeping every team on equal footing.

Fans eager to catch the action live won’t be disappointed. Unrivaled has secured a six-year broadcast partnership with TNT and truTV, bringing the league straight into living rooms across the country. Monday and Friday matchups air on TNT, while Saturday games are featured on truTV. In addition, every game is available to stream live on MAX, giving fans multiple ways to stay connected to the action.

Why are Curry & Serena backing this project?

Stephen Curry and Serena Williams have long been advocates for equality and fair opportunity for women’s sports. To show their commitment to this cause, they have invested heavily in Unrivaled. This investment is not only a means for them to support something they believe in but also a great financial opportunity. 

The motto of Unrivaled since the beginning has been ‘by the players, for the players’. Their ownership structure is a clear indication of an upcoming trend of athletes investing to be a part of ownership. Unrivaled’s evolution is a clear indication of how the players are willing to create something at their own risk to build a product that satisfies the needs of the player. After all, who understands the players better than themselves?