Art Basel is an art show based in Miami Beach and is a premier platform for artists and galleries. It is an annual event for artists, celebrities, athletes and entertainers. It was held from December 6-8 in Miami. Unrivaled Basketball will play in Miami for its inaugural season; Rae Burrell, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, was in attendance and represented Unrivaled. This is great for the sport of basketball, especially for women’s basketball. Representation matters, bringing more eyes to female athletes and women’s sports.
Rae Burrell
Rae Burrell, a guard-forward drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022 as the 9th overall pick, only played three games in her rookie year due to a knee injury, and her season was cut short. Burrell has had an interesting WNBA career by far. Burrell was waived by the Sparks in 2023 and, a few weeks later, was signed with the team on a hardship contract. As of now, she is on a multi-year agreement with Los Angeles.
Burrell’s evolution has impressed everyone; she played 37 games this season with the Sparks, averaged 15.6 minutes per game, and finished the season with 5.9 points per game. A big guard who plays both sides of the floor averaged 78% from the free-throw line and shot 36% from the field.
Rae Burrell in Athletes Unlimited
Another way professional athletes can improve their game is to join other leagues during the offseason. That is precisely what Burrell did with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Season 3 earlier this year. She played 12 games, averaged 23 minutes per game, shot 44.2% from the field and finished with 11.1 points per game. On top of that, she crashed the boards with 2.9 rebounds per game. It is impressive what Burrell has been able to do in three years in the WNBA and one year in Athletes Unlimited. She has been through a lot of obstacles and has surpassed them all.
Burrell is the elite athlete and person Unrivaled Basketball is getting for its inaugural season in January 2025. Burrell is only getting started and will only get better over time.
Art Basel 2024 Women’s Basketball Representation
Having a professional basketball player represent Unrivaled Basketball at Art Basel speaks volumes for women’s basketball and how far the sport has come. The marketing abilities have risen, and Burrell’s attendance at the premier art show showcases women’s basketball demand and popularity.
The representation did not stop there: Murray Henderson, a Renowned sports, music, and celebrity artist, did a painting of the two owners of Unrivaled, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
