MIAMI — A brand new professional 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, known as Unrivaled, is set to kick off this Friday. The league will feature six teams competing for the championship title. Here’s everything you need to know about the league’s structure, locations for the games, and how to catch the action.
The Unrivaled season will commence on Friday and will run until March 17, with most games scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. Each match night will feature two games broadcast on TNT or TruTV. Notably, the broadcasts will include a studio show led by former WNBA star and basketball analyst Candace Parker.
The league is set to host 36 players from the WNBA, forming six teams with six players on each. Unrivaled was established by two WNBA All-Stars and Olympic gold medalists, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, both of whom are also participating as players. Fans can look forward to seeing other prominent WNBA athletes such as Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Angel Reese, and Arike Ogunbowale.
In terms of financial incentives, nearly all players in the league will be earning six-figure salaries. The average salary exceeds any previous figures seen in women’s sports leagues, with a total salary pool of over $8 million. Additionally, players will have a stake in the league’s equity. To further enhance competition, a 1-on-1 tournament will take place in February, with the champion receiving $250,000, and every winning teammate receiving $10,000.
The games will take place in a newly built 850-seat arena in Miami. The league comprises six teams — the Laces, Mist, Rose, Lunar Owls, Phantom, and Vinyl — and will utilize a compact court measuring 72 feet long and 49.2 feet wide, smaller than standard WNBA courts.
Regarding the rules of play, Unrivaled matches will consist of three quarters lasting seven minutes each, followed by a fourth quarter that is not timed. Teams will aim for a “winning score”, calculated by adding 11 points to the leading team’s score after three quarters. For instance, if Team X leads 60-55, the game continues until one team reaches 71.
“Every game, we will have a game-winning shot,” noted Unrivaled President, Alex Bazzell. “It’s essential for us, ensuring clarity on the objectives as we transition from the third quarter.”
Unique to Unrivaled, players will only take one free throw when fouled during a shot attempt, which holds the same point value as the shot. Consequently, if a player is fouled while attempting a three-pointer, they can score three points from the free throw. Similarly, fouls on two-point attempts will yield two free points, while and-1 situations will add one point.
Games will follow an accelerated 18-second shot clock, shorter than the traditional WNBA 24 seconds. Additionally, the shot clock will stop after baskets made in the last 30 seconds of each quarter, in contrast to the WNBA’s one-minute stoppage.
The Unrivaled facilities boast state-of-the-art training amenities, including a modern weight room, a glamour room, and content creation spaces, alongside a personal chef at the venue. Players will also receive complimentary housing in two-bedroom apartments and rental cars.
“They’ve been taking exceptional care of us regarding the facility,” remarked Rae Burrell, a player for the Los Angeles Sparks. “The amenities have been outstanding, with meals provided and always stocked fridges for snacks.”
