Breanna Stewart’s Unrivaled
Breanna Stewart, New York’s star player, together with Minnesota standout Napheesa Collier, has announced the launch of a new professional league for WNBA athletes. The former UConn teammates have founded the Unrivaled League, a 3v3 competition set to debut in 2025. This league aims to keep the excitement of the WNBA alive year-round while offering players a viable financial alternative to playing overseas. The Unrivaled League will feature six teams: Laces BC, Lunar Owls BC, Mist BC, Phantoms BC, Rose BC, and Vinyl BC.
Unrivaled League: Rules of Engagement
The league will have an exclusive thirty-woman roster. The star-studded roster, now at 27 athletes will be announcing the remaining three players soon. To date, only 2024 WNBA rookies have made it to the list.
Angel Reese Leads Star Studded Roster
The round 1, seventh pick forward was the first rookie to be added to the Unrivaled League. She averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in her first season playing for the Chicago Sky. It is undeniable that her presence in the league built a great momentum for the former LSU player. She completed the season with a number of records broken, which include breaking the long-standing consecutive double doubles formerly held by Candace Parker.
Reese had 15 consecutive double doubles, which also contributed to her record of having the most double doubles by a rookie at 26 double doubles in a season. She finished the season with 446 rebounds making her the record holder for most single season rebounds by a WNBA player in a season. She also holds the most offensive rebounds in a season. The 305 Barbie unfortunately had an early end to her rookie year following a season ending wrist injury. It is clear that she brings star power and will be one of the elite players on the Unrivaled team.
Rickea Jackson
The former Tennessee player had an amazing rookie year with the Los Angeles Sparks. She averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.7 steals. Rickea is a round one fourth pick and was named to the WNBA All Rookie Team. The small forward had a great college career following her time at Mississippi State for her freshman year after which she transferred to Tennessee for the rest of her college playing career. She averaged 17.8 points and 6.1 rebounds for her college career at both universities with a high of 19.2 points per game while at Tennessee.
She was named to the SEC All Tournament three times, holds numerous honorable mentions from WBCA, USA Today Sports, Coaches All SEC team, among other honors. She brings unrivaled energy to the league with her experience playing 3v3 representing the United States at the FIBA 3×3 tournament.
Kate Martin
Kate is the latest edition to the Unrivaled family. She was drafted in the 2024 draft as a round two pick, eighteenth by the Las Vegas Aces. The 6’0 guard averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 rebounds per game. At Iowa, she averaged 13.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in her senior year.
Her career high was 25 points against Drake University and 16 rebounds against Penn State University. Martin set a number of records at Iowa, becoming only the 43rd player in program history to have more than 1000 career points, 700+ rebounds and 400+ assists. The guard’s signing to Unrivaled brings a lot of excitement and a huge fan base for the league as she is a favorite to watch.
Unrivaled League is game changer for WNBA
Expanded Opportunities: By creating a professional 3v3 league, Unrivaled provides additional playing opportunities for female athletes, allowing them to showcase their talent outside of the traditional WNBA season. This can attract more players, including those who may not have been able to secure a spot in the WNBA.
Increased Visibility: The league can help elevate the profile of women’s basketball by featuring star players in a new format. This increased visibility can attract new fans, sponsors, and media attention, further promoting women’s sports.
Financial Support: With the struggles many WNBA players face regarding financial stability, particularly when playing overseas, the Unrivaled League offers an alternative avenue for athletes to earn a living in their sport. It creates a more sustainable career path for players, helping to alleviate the financial burdens they often encounter.
Skill Development: The 3v3 format encourages faster-paced gameplay and emphasizes individual skill development. Players can refine their abilities in a more dynamic environment, which can benefit their performance in the WNBA and internationally.
Fostering Competition: Unrivaled introduces a new competitive landscape that can complement the WNBA. This added competition can elevate the overall quality of women’s basketball, pushing players to improve and innovate their game.
Engaging New Fans: The unique format of 3v3 basketball can attract different demographics of fans, making the sport more accessible and appealing to younger audiences. This engagement can help build a larger, more diverse fan base.
Legacy of Excellence: By being founded by prominent WNBA stars like Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the Unrivaled League carries the legacy and influence of its founders, setting high expectations for excellence and professionalism in women’s basketball.
Overall, the Unrivaled League represents a significant step forward in the evolution of women’s professional basketball, offering new opportunities and fostering growth for players, fans, and the sport as a whole.
