By: TINAYZA HERRIOTT / STAFF WRITER

On July 6, 2023, WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier made a groundbreaking announcement: the launch of "Unrivaled," a 3x3 women’s basketball league meant to redefine the sport. With the rise of women’s basketball over the past few years, Stewart and Collier envisioned Unrivaled as a space where female athletes can thrive.
As stated by both founders, Unrivaled allows players to stay in the U.S. and continue to play competitively, addressing the issue of limited domestic opportunities for women’s basketball players. Along with being able to stay in the country, players also benefit from holding equity within the league, something that is not often heard of in professional sports.
Unrivaled Explained
One thing to remember when watching Unrivaled is that it is not the same as the WNBA. Unrivaled consists of six teams: the Laces, Mist, Lunar Owls, Rose, Phantom and Vinyl, each housing six players. Some rosters include five core players and one wildcard spot.
The league holds one setting for all six teams and players in Miami, Florida, over an eight-week period. The league's decision to host games in the same arena and accommodate players in the same area has allowed for the construction of state-of-the-art facilities to assist players' training, practice and recovery.
Unlike the WNBA, Unrivaled does not have individually owned franchises. Instead, it is backed by investors who bought into the league's overall interests. Unrivaled has secured $35 million in total funding, including $8 million specifically allocated for player salaries, thanks to its investors and sponsors.This has allowed for the league to offer players the highest average salary in women’s basketball, with an average of $222,222 per season. Some of Unrivaled’s investors include Dawn Staley, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Phelps, Warner Bros. Discovery, among many others.
Games are played full-court, with dimensions of the hardwood being 49.2 ft. by 72 ft., whereas WNBA games are played on a 94 ft. by 50 ft. setting. Unrivaled is played during a four-quarter period, with each of the first three quarters being seven minutes long. There is an 18-second shot clock paired with the 7-minute quarters for each game.
The final quarter differs as an untimed quarter that features a winning score, determined by adding 11 points to the total score of the team leading through the first three quarters. In order to win, the first team that reaches that total score is deemed victorious, making overtime impossible.
In terms of fouling, players are ejected from contests after accumulating six personal fouls. However, due to the limited roster size, if at least 3 players foul out, then the 4th player to foul out will be allowed to stay in the game and would collect one technical foul for each additional personal foul made.
On foul shots, players are only allowed one free throw. For example, if a player is fouled on a 3-point shot, the player will be awarded with one free throw shot worth three points.
Team/Roster Placement
Teams were carefully selected through a group selection process led by the league's six head coaches: Andrew Wade, DJ Sackmann, Teresa Witherspoon, Adam Harrington, Nola Henry and Phil Handy. Players were grouped into six pods, each containing six players, categorized by position and skill to promote balance. Once the rosters were finalized, coaches were randomly assigned to their teams, adding a surprising element.

1 v 1 Tournament
Unrivaled is also introducing a mid-season event — a 1-on-1 tournament that crowns the single best player in the league. Held from February 10-14, 2025, the competition provides an opportunity for players to showcase their individual talent outside of team play.
The tournament follows a knockout structure, where players go head-to-head in elimination rounds until a final champion is crowned. The winner of the 1v1 tournament will take home $250,000, while their 3-on-3 teammates receive $10,000 each.
Playoffs
Unrivaled’s top four teams will get a chance to compete for a championship through a single-elimination playoff format, ensuring high stakes and intense competition. The playoffs will take place over two days, featuring semifinals and a championship game.
Semifinals (March 16, 2025): The No. 1 seed will face the No. 4 seed, while the No. 2 seed will compete against the No. 3 seed. These games will determine the two teams that advance to the championship game on March 17th.
Where can you watch?
Thanks to Unrivaled’s multi-year media rights deal totaling over $100 million, viewers can catch their favorite team play Mondays and Fridays on TNT and Saturdays on TruTV. In addition, Unrivaled games are streamed on Max.
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