Unrivaled is more than just a footnote in women's basketball—it's a surprising glimpse into the sport’s evolving landscape, but how seriously should we actually consider it? Launched in 2023 by players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is a startup league designed as an offseason playground for a select group of WNBA athletes. It features a unique format—3x3 games hosted on a Miami soundstage—with the promise of equity and competitive pay. For these top-tier players, it’s an efficient way to earn extra income, stay physically sharp, and avoid the historically necessary overseas winter contracts that have long been a part of their professional lives.
Yet, as the league begins its second season, I find myself pondering: How meaningful is Unrivaled in the bigger picture of women’s basketball? The game they play here—the quick, intense 3x3 style—differs drastically from traditional WNBA basketball, making it a questionable indicator of player development or skill progression. Last year, some players who had lackluster performances in Unrivaled—like Stewart, Aliyah Boston, and Satou Sabally—turned in their usual stellar WNBA seasons. This inconsistency raises a key question: Is Unrivaled more about the experience and opportunity than serious competition? For media members like myself, attending games in Miami last winter was genuinely enjoyable—the atmosphere and in-person viewing were engaging. Still, there’s a certain disconnect when asking players questions afterward about a game that still feels somewhat unreal, almost like a side project rather than the main stage.
From observing practices that range from highly rigorous to more casual, it’s clear that not all players approach Unrivaled with the same level of dedication. Unsurprisingly, Collier’s team—the Lunar Owls—are the most intense, grounded in the hard work and seriousness fans would expect. That said, the league’s true purpose doesn’t seem to be about overtaking or challenging the WNBA. There are whispers about its ambitions, but most signs point toward it being more complementary—think of it as a parallel universe that enriches the sport’s ecosystem rather than threatening it.
A clear example is the upcoming “Project B”—a mysterious, high-profile global 5-on-5 league inspired by Formula 1, with big-name players like Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas committed to it. Its goal? To create an exciting international women’s basketball showcase outside the traditional league system. It’s tempting to see this as a rival, but the founders and organizers often describe these efforts as additive rather than replacing existing structures.
Nneka Ogwumike herself, speaking to ESPN, emphasized her respect for the WNBA, calling it “the height of women’s basketball,” and expressed earnest hopes for growth and mutual support. Collier echoes this, often suggesting that the true aim behind Unrivaled is to push for higher salaries and better recognition for women’s professional basketball—perhaps even hoping that eventually, the league becomes unnecessary if salaries catch up. Some industry insiders have speculated that the ultimate goal may be to act as a catalyst for the WNBA to improve economically, possibly leading to a future where Unrivaled fades into the background, replaced by a stronger, better-paid league.
On the other hand, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has taken a more diplomatic tone. She views Unrivaled as a complementary entity, not a competitor, although her tone sometimes hints at slight annoyance. When asked about the league during a draft press conference last spring, she appeared a bit exasperated, emphasizing the scale difference—where WNBA games attract 15,000 to 20,000 fans, Unrivaled’s games draw around 800. She highlighted the logistical challenges WNBA faces—scheduling, traveling, managing a broader player roster—implying that comparing the two is tricky but mutually beneficial for growing women’s basketball in different ways.
This tension materialized publicly when Collier publicly criticized WNBA leadership following a visit from Engelbert to Unrivaled, signaling a disconnect between some players’ experiences and league management's outlook. As a dedicated fan of women’s basketball, I see the relationship between the WNBA and Unrivaled not as a fierce rivalry but more like the comedic pairing of the straight man and the comic foil in a sitcom. Understanding one helps you appreciate the other—Unrivaled disrupts the norm with its experimental spirit, much like a curious animal friend that surprises you with its unlikely friendship. It’s entertaining precisely because it breaks the conventional molds of team-building, star development, and fan engagement.
Last season, before their playoff exit, the Lunar Owls—also known as the Lynx South—participated in Unrivaled, with a roster featuring stars like Collier and her Minnesota teammate Courtney Williams, who was traded preseason to the Laces to join fellow Aces Tiffany Hayes and Kate Martin—a quirky draft-style team selection that resembles the playful antics of All-Star draft day. However, with Collier sitting out next season due to ankle surgeries, and players moving to new teams, the league continues to evolve, revealing its potential as a showcase for unprecedented team configurations and fresh basketball talent.
This season’s standout feature is the creation of a super-team of young, brilliant prospects—Breeze BC, a new addition to the league, where players like Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson come together. The majority of these athletes are under 25, hailing from different countries and franchises, yet in the world of Unrivaled, they can come together effortlessly—an example of how this league offers a glimpse into “what-if” super teams that normally wouldn’t align in traditional pro basketball. It’s a fantasy playground for fans craving the thrill of watching the sport’s future stars in unorthodox lineups—something we might not see in the standard season but that sparks excitement and conversation.
(And on a technical note: a correction was made—Tiffany Hayes is indeed part of Unrivaled this season, serving as an injury replacement for the Phantom team, contrary to earlier reports.)**
Would you agree that leagues like Unrivaled are simply a fun, experimental addition or a serious threat to traditional women’s basketball? Drop your thoughts and opinions in the comments below—does this new frontier push the sport forward or distract from the core game?
