MEDLEY, Fla. — On Friday, WNBA player Napheesa Collier, representing the Minnesota Lynx, garnered an impressive $200,000 after triumphing over Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards in the championship of Unrivaled’s one-on-one tournament. This remarkable sum is recognized as the largest single-day payout in women’s basketball history, as stated by Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawler. This monumental prize reflects one of the aspirations that Collier and fellow WNBA star Breanna Stewart had when they established the 3-on-3 league.
Unrivaled provides WNBA athletes the chance to compete domestically while earning substantial salaries, an appealing alternative for players who had typically taken on overseas contracts during the offseason to enhance their earnings. Throughout the eight-week season, players typically earn an average salary exceeding $220,000, which approaches the maximum base salary in the WNBA.
Collier shared her thoughts on the payday: “My entire WNBA salary is what I just got in 30 minutes of playing 1-on-1,” she remarked. “Which is insane to even say. And the same goes for overseas play. Many athletes rely solely on what they earn overseas, playing for seven months to make that kind of money.”
As the top seed in the 30-player tournament, Collier secured her position as Unrivaled’s inaugural 1-on-1 champion by defeating the eighth-seeded Edwards in a best-of-three series, finishing with a score of 2-1. Each game was played to a winning score of 8, with Edwards claiming the opening game before Collier rallied back to win the next two.
In addition to Collier’s winnings, each member of her team, the Lunar Owls, received $10,000 from the tournament’s total prize pool of $350,000. Edwards also earned $50,000 for her place in the final round. Collier expressed her desire for women’s basketball to adopt the 1-on-1 format more widely.
“You see guys or boys playing in parks — like pickup games or one-on-ones, and you don’t see that on the women’s side as much,” Collier highlighted. “We are striving to change that less-structured atmosphere, encouraging play like in a backyard or at the park.”
Collier displayed a dominant performance throughout the tournament, leading Unrivaled in scoring with an average of 29.3 points per game. Earlier that day, she decisively defeated her former UConn teammate, sixth-seeded Azura Stevens, in the semifinals with a score of 11-2, having scored the game’s initial eight points and showcasing her defensive prowess as the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Her journey to the finals began with a quick victory over Katie Lou Samuelson in the first round, followed by a gritty second-round face-off against Rickea Jackson. Finally, she overcame her teammate Courtney Williams to secure her place in the semifinals. Collier delivered a dominant performance in the decisive Game 3 against Edwards, shooting 4 of 6 and preventing Edwards from scoring.
Edwards, representing Mist in the tournament, made impressive strides to reach the final, having previously outmatched top-seeded players, including securing an emphatic victory against number one seed Arike Ogunbowale, winning 11-2 in the semifinals. Prior to that, she earned a dominant 12-0 win against number one seed Stewart in the opening round, and after receiving a bye in the second round, she claimed victory over third-seeded Allisha Gray, with a score of 12-6.
Both Ogunbowale and Stevens received $25,000 each for their semifinal appearances. The initial rounds leading to the finals were conducted in a single-elimination style, requiring a winning score of 11 points, using the traditional scoring system where baskets were valued at two or three points.
At just 22 years old, Edwards is gearing up for her second season with the Mystics and hopes her performance reflects her dedication to improvement. “I’m proud of myself. No one could take that away from me,” Edwards stated. “The effort I’ve invested is evident, showcasing that I’m not someone to underestimate.”
Collier noted that the physical nature of several matches left many players exhausted throughout the tournament, a challenge she believes can be addressed in future seasons. Furthermore, she expressed interest in a similar event for NBA players, emphasizing that it’s ultimately up to the athletes to decide.
“It’s a challenging situation to put your name and reputation on the line,” Collier explained. “I truly respect everyone who participated in this because … anyone has the potential to emerge victorious.”
