MEDLEY, Fla. — The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, founded by WNBA luminaries Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is setting its sights on securing a lasting presence in women’s sports following the conclusion of its first season in Miami.
The league made its debut in January, riding the wave of significant growth and enthusiasm in women’s sports. It ended the eight-week season on a high note with Rose securing the inaugural championship on a recent Monday. Historically, WNBA players have often had to play overseas during the offseason to enhance their earnings. However, Unrivaled was established to provide a domestic alternative, emphasizing player development, rapid and robust play, and offering substantial salaries.
Attracting some of the top talents in the sport, including Chicago Sky’s rookie Angel Reese and Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, Unrivaled garnered an average viewership of 221,000 on TNT and truTV during its regular season and concluding two-day postseason. According to the league, all games held at the 850-seat Wayfair Arena were sold out, with ticket revenue crossing the one million dollar mark.
Unrivaled’s coverage reached over 11.9 million viewers across TNT and truTV, giving birth to the 10 most-watched women’s basketball games on TNT Sports’ networks. Additionally, the games were available on Max, rendering them the most-streamed women’s basketball games on the platform.
The final match on Monday, which saw Rose face Vinyl, attracted an average of 364,000 viewers, peaking at 385,000—marking a 99% rise from the regular season ratings. Meanwhile, 398,000 viewers tuned in to watch Collier win $200,000 in Unrivaled’s midseason 1 on 1 tournament.
In a season-ending conference, Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell expressed satisfaction with the league’s foundation. “Based on our viewership, it’s clear we’re making an impact. We are excited about our positioning in the women’s sports ecosystem. As maintained from the beginning, outsizing WNBA numbers in our inaugural year wasn’t the goal. The key takeaway is that our audiences engage and come back,” Bazzell stated.
The $200,000 prize awarded to Collier set a new record for a single-day payout in women’s basketball, as highlighted by Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawler. Unrivaled aimed to set a novel standard for female athletes’ compensation.
The league featured an impressive average salary exceeding $220,000 for its players, the highest of any professional women’s sports league, nearing the WNBA’s maximum base salary. The players raked in over $8.65 million in total compensation from the salary pool, the 1 on 1 tournament, and championship alongside equity in the league. Players from the championship team, Rose, each received $50,000.
To prepare for its launch, Unrivaled amassed over $35 million from various investors, including prominent figures such as Stephen Curry, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, and Coco Gauff.
Fan engagement remained strong throughout the season. The league’s primary social media platforms accumulated nearly 400,000 followers, and the 36 participating Unrivaled players collectively gained close to 1 million followers since the season’s start.
Players have commended the overall experience, appreciating the facilities like the training center, weight room at WayFair Arena, and accessible childcare amenities, including nursing rooms. Looking ahead, Unrivaled plans to continue with six teams in its second year, remaining based in Miami, yet is open to exploring new markets. While expansion is on the horizon, Bazzell emphasized that it should not affect player salaries.