Calling all soon-to-be, currently obsessed, and queer women’s basketball fans who have been here all along—it may be the offseason, but you can still get your WNBA fix this month.
Professional women’s basketball, one of the most progressive and diverse basketball leagues, is finally getting the recognition it deserves, which only means we’ll get to see more queer athletes and far better competitive basketball on television this offseason! The 2024 WNBA season was an exciting and groundbreaking time for women. It became the most-watched season on ESPN platforms and had its highest total attendance, 48% higher than last season.
It feels like just yesterday that the New York Liberty won their first championship, and the city streets were covered in seafoam green, black, and white confetti—along with some celebratory champagne. The WNBA season may be over for now, but come January 17, Unrivaled, a new women’s basketball league, plans to bring you all the same hype, players, and entertainment. As preparation for the league intensifies, here’s everything you need to know about Unrivaled.
What is Unrivaled?
Unrivaled is a three-on-three women’s basketball league co-founded by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. The league will feature six teams of six players from the WNBA, and all games will take place in Miami. Stewart and Collier created the league to challenge the landscape of women’s professional basketball, giving WNBA players a domestic alternative to playing overseas during the offseason and compensating its players with a historic six-figure salary higher than the WNBA.
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The season will last nine weeks, including playoffs. Each game night will feature two one-hour games, with all teams competing against one another on a round-robin schedule. On a compressed full court, the three-on-three games will feature four timed seven-minute quarters, with a game clock and shot clock. Collier also announced a one-on-one tournament will take place towards the end of the season to determine the best one-on-one player in the world. The winner will get bragging rights. Oh, and a $250,000 cash prize.
What are the rosters for the six teams?
Unrivaled coaches Teresa Weatherspoon, also known as “New York City Hoops Legend,” Los Angeles Sparks assistant coach Nola Henry, former Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy, NBA skills coach DJ Sackmann, Washington Mystics assistant coach Andrew Wade, and former professional basketball player and assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets Adam Herrington, put the teams together before knowing what team they would be assigned too.
Vinyl (coached by Witherspoon):
Aliyah Boston, big, Indiana Fever
Arike Ogunbowale, guard, Dallas Wings
Dearica Hamby, big, Los Angeles Sparks
Jordin Canada, guard, Atlanta Dream
Rae Burell, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
Rhyne Howard, wing, Atlanta Dream
Rose (coached by Henry):
Angel Reese, forward, Chicago Sky
Azurá Stevens, big, Los Angeles Sparks
Brittney Skyes, guard, Washington Mystics
Chelsea Gray, guard, Las Vegas Aces
Kahleah Copper, wing, Phoenix Mercury
Lexie Hull, wing, Indiana Fever
Mist (coached by Handy):
Aaliyah Edwards, big, Washington Mystics
Courtney Vandersloot, guard, New York Liberty
DiJonai Carrington, wing, Connecticut Sun
Jewell Loyd, guard, Seattle Storm
Rickea Jackson, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
Breanna Stewart, big, New York Liberty
Lunar Owls (coached by Sackmann):
Allisha Gray, guard, Atlanta Dream
Cameron Brink, forward, Los Angeles Sparks
Courtney Williams, guard, Minnesota Lynx
Napheesa Collier, forward, Minnesota Lynx
Shakira Austin, forward-center, Washington Mystics
Skylar Diggins-Smith, guard, Seattle Storm
Laces (coached by Wade):
Alyssa Thomas, forward, Connecticut Sun
Jackie Young, guard, Las Vegas Aces
Kate Martin, guard, Golden State Valkyries
Kayla McBride, guard, Minnesota Lynx
Stefanie Dolson, forward-center, Washington Mystics
Tiffany Hayes, guard, Las Vegas Aces
Phantom (coached by Harrington):
Brittney Griner, center, Phoenix Mercury
Katie Lou Samuelson, forward, Indiana Fever
Marina Mabrey, guard, Connecticut Sun
Natasha Cloud, guard, Phoenix Mercury
Sabrina Ionescu, guard, New York Liberty
Satou Sabally, forward, Dallas Wings
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What’s the schedule?
Unrivaled will start January 17 with Mist versus Owls at 7 p.m. ET and Rose versus Vinyl at 8 p.m. ET. Games will take place every Friday, Saturday, and Monday from January 17 to March 17, leaving each team playing two games per week. You can find the full schedule on the league website.
Where can I watch Unrivaled?
If you’re looking to watch your favorites battle it out from the Miami bleachers, tickets can be purchased through the website via Ticketmaster. For the women’s basketball fans looking to stream from home, all games will be broadcast on TNT or truTV, with streaming available on MAX.
A new era for women’s basketball?
Unrivaled Basketball is quickly establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with. This league is becoming a movement through its record-breaking contracts and commitment to equitable pay in women’s professional sports. In an interview on Good Morning America, when asked what makes Unrivaled different, Stewart explained, “In the women’s world, this has never happened before,” later adding, “We’re trying to grow the game individually and collectively. And making sure we are filling gaps, filling voids of not seeing these WNBA players throughout the entire offseason, and now we’re going to be around!”
Don’t miss out on an exciting opportunity to watch history in the making!
