Two WNBA legends, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart have changed the game of basketball with their new three-on-three women’s basketball league, Unrivaled. Unrivaled’s inaugral season began on January 17, 2025, with its nine-week run still ongoing with anticipation of its first-ever champions.
The objective of the league is to be fast-paced and fun, and to keep the viewers ready for anything. Their three-on-three format is played on a compressed full court, 72 feet long by 49.2 feet wide, compared to WNBA courts of 94 feet long by 50 feet wide.
Instead of a 24-second shot clock, Unrivaled has shortened it to 18 seconds and only 12 seconds for resets. Free throws can now be the product of personal fouls, and athletes only take one free throw after being fouled. If fouled on a two-point shot, the free throw will be worth two points, and if fouled on a three-point shot it will be worth three points. Players foul out after six personal fouls.
The first three quarters of the games are only seven minutes of basketball, with the last quarter being untimed. Whichever team is leading by the end of the third quarter will take their score and add 11 to find the golden score the teams will need to hit to win in the fierce fourth and final quarter. Each club will go against the other at least once, with no way to get around it.
Unrivaled has six clubs, six athletes on each team and 36 of the greatest women’s basketball stars. Notable players include recent WNBA champions Sabrina Ionescu, Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner, and Las Vegas Ace’s Chelsea Gray. They also carry rookies Kate Martin, Angel Reese and Aaliyah Edwards. Unrivaled allows players who normally only compete against each other to interact and it will be interesting to see if it affects team rosters or trades going into the 2025-2026 season.
Many WNBA and NBA players alike play basketball overseas during their offseasons to stay in shape and generate income. However, Unrivaled is based in Miami, Fla., allowing their players to stay stateside. Staying domestic not only allows players to stay closer to home, but it will also allow them to bypass complications with the WNBA’s prioritization rules against those who decide to play overseas. Many oversea leagues extend into WNBA preseason training camp, while some go as far as extending into their regular season start. Due to many players missing these critical events, they can be fined and some may even face suspension from the league.
Unrivaled will soon exhibit a one-on-one single elimination tournament with 30 players in the middle of their nine-week run. There is a $350,000 prize pool with $200,000 going to the tournament winner and $50,000 to the runner-up. Additionally, the semi-finalists will receive $25,000 each, and the winner’s clubmates will be rewarded with $10,000 each. The first round of the tournament will begin on Monday, February 10, and will be a crowd-pleasing sporting event.
Unrivaled is new, intense and brings a whole different level of pressure and passion to the well-beloved game of basketball. Women’s sports have become unstoppable this past year, and Unrivaled is helping lead the way.
As they say, “The Future is Unrivaled.”