What is Unrivaled? Teams, rosters, rules, contracts and more about new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league

By | November 19, 2024

Unrivaled Basketball is set to be a groundbreaking addition to women’s professional sports in the United States.

Founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is a professional women’s basketball league that will play its games in the U.S. The league will be made up of WNBA players, feature some of the game’s biggest names and provide record-breaking compensation.

As it prepares for its inaugural season, here is everything to know about the new league, including teams, rosters, rules and more.

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What is Unrivaled?

Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 professional women’s basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

The league was established as a domestic alternative for WNBA players who would otherwise spend the winter months playing professionally overseas. Players will also be compensated at a historic rate.

The league will feature six teams of six players on each team and will be composed entirely of WNBA players. Unrivaled’s inaugural season begins on Jan. 17, 2025. All games will be played in Miami.

Unrivaled teams

The inaugural season of the Unrivaled League will feature the following six teams:

  • Laces Basketball Club
  • Lunar Owls Basketball Club
  • Mist Basketball Club
  • Phantom Basketball Club
  • Rose Basketball Club
  • Vinyl Basketball Club

Unrivaled rosters

The Unrivaled League has not yet drafted its rosters for the 2025 season. The following 34 players are confirmed to take part in the inaugural campaign. 

Player Pos. WNBA team
Shakira Austin F/C Washington Mystics
Aliyah Boston F/C Indiana Fever
DiJonai Carrington G/F Connecticut Sun
Natasha Cloud G Phoenix Mercury
Napheesa Collier F Minnesota Lynx
Kahleah Copper G/F Phoenix Mercury
Skylar Diggins-Smith G Seattle Storm
Stefanie Dolson C Washington Mystics
Aaliyah Edwards F Washington Mystics
Allisha Gray G Atlanta Dream
Chelsea Gray G Las Vegas Aces
Brittney Griner C Phoenix Mercury
Dearica Hamby F Los Angeles Sparks
Tiffany Hayes F Las Vegas Aces
Rhyne Howard G Atlanta Dream
Lexie Hull G Indiana Fever
Rickea Jackson F Los Angeles Sparks
Jewell Loyd G Seattle Storm
Marina Mabrey G Connecticut Sun
Kate Martin G Las Vegas Aces
Kayla McBride G Minnesota Lynx
Arike Ogunbowale G Dallas Wings
Kelsey Plum G Las Vegas Aces
Angel Reese F Chicago Sky
Satou Sabally F Dallas Wings
Azurá Stevens F/C Los Angeles Sparks
Breanna Stewart F New York Liberty
Brittney Sykes G Washington Mystics
Alyssa Thomas F Connecticut Sun
Courtney Vandersloot G New York Liberty
Courtney Williams G Minnesota Lynx
Jackie Young G Las Vegas Aces
Rae Burrell G/F Los Angeles Sparks
Jordin Canada G Atlanta Dream

MORE: How the Liberty broke through to end historic title drought

Is Caitlin Clark playing in Unrivaled?

Caitlin Clark is not yet a confirmed participant in Unrivaled’s inaugural season. The Fever rookie has remained noncommital when asked whether she will play in 2025, but hasn’t ruled it out.

“We’ll see,” Clark told ESPN earlier this month. “I don’t know. Just taking it as it goes, and see if I want to play eventually.”

A Front Office Sports report in October said Unrivaled pitched Clark a “(Lionel) Messi-like offer” to sign on, including a $1 million salary and shares in revenue.

“We’re always going to have a roster spot for Caitlin Clark,” Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell told Sportico. “We’re not applying a full-court press the way people think. We are letting her decompress from basketball. … She knows that we have a spot for her when she’s ready.”

Fans are holding out hope, however, that Clark will be among the final player announcements ahead of the club selection on Nov. 20.

Unrivaled rules

The Unrivaled League will feature a new form of 3-on-3 basketball played on a compressed full court that is 70 feet long and 50 feet wide. The games will be played in a one-hour broadcast window. Each game will feature four timed quarters, with a game clock and shot clock.

The season will be eight weeks long, including the playoffs.

In the regular season, all six teams will play a round-robin schedule. After the regular season, the top four teams in the standings will advance to the playoffs.

Unrivaled contracts

While the figures have not been shared publicly, Unrivaled is setting a record with the highest average salaries in women’s sports history, per its website.

Sports Business Journal reported the average salary for players in Unrivaled is expected to be around $250,000, with all salaries at least six figures.

All 36 initial players will also receive equity ownership in their teams.

MORE: Why Mike Breen compared Caitlin Clark to Michael Jordan, LeBron James, & Stephen Curry

Unrivaled key dates

  • Nov. 20, 2024: Unrivaled Basketball Club Selection
  • Jan. 17, 2025: Regular season begins in Miami
  • Feb. 14, 2025: 1-on-1 tournament
  • March 10, 2025: Regular season ends
  • March 16, 2025: Semifinals
  • March 17, 2025: Championship

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