Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, announced a $340 million valuation on Monday. The oversubscribed Series B round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners. This milestone comes just months after the league ended its first season in March.
Breaking New Ground
The league has grown quickly. It raised $7 million in a seed round in May 2024. Later, it secured $28 million in Series A funding last December. As a result, the latest Series B deal boosted the valuation to $340 million. This growth highlights the rapid momentum in women’s sports.
Celebrity Funding fuels Growth
New investors include Serena Williams’ venture capital firm Serena Ventures, NBA stars Trae Young, Franz and Moritz Wagner, University of Maryland president Darryll Pines and his wife Sylvia, and sports executive Sam Rapoport. They join returning backers such as Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures and Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside early supporters like Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carmelo Anthony, Coco Gauff, Michael Phelps, Billie Jean King, Geno Auriemma, and Dawn Staley.
Empowering Female Athletes
Collier and Stewart launched Unrivaled in 2023 to provide top women’s basketball players with another U.S. playing option during the WNBA offseason while supplementing their incomes. Players earn the highest average salaries in women’s professional sports league history and receive equity stakes, creating long-term financial opportunities.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The first season featured stars such as Angel Reese and Brittney Griner, averaged 221,000 viewers on TNT and truTV, and sold out its Miami arena for the postseason. The second season will tip off in January 2026, with upgrades underway at the league’s Medley, Florida facility, including expanded training space.
A Winning Strategy
Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell said the latest investment proves that athlete-driven models “can thrive at the highest levels of business.” Stewart added that the valuation reflects the pride of everyone who believed in the league since day one and shows where the league is headed. With fresh capital, celebrity backing, and growing fan interest, Unrivaled is positioned to continue redefining what is possible for women’s professional sports.
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