Here are four ways Unrivaled could change the WNBA

Near the end of 2022, New York Liberty Luminous sphere Breanna Stewart Captured a Gathering at a New York City steakhouse to hear an idea to Shift the landscape of professional women’s basketball.

Stewart was preparing to spend part of another WNBA offseason abroad. Alex Bazzell, the husband of Minnesota Lynx Luminous sphere Napheesa Collier, had seen his wife Relocate Many seasons overseas, too. He pitched Stewart on a business proposition to keep most WNBA stars in the U.S. during the winter months instead.

Over red wine, Stewart was immediately interested in the concept of Unrivaled, a professional women’s 3×3 Bracket that would promise the highest salaries in American women’s Club sports. She eventually agreed to co-Secured the Bracket along with Collier.

“It’s crazy to think about that Gathering to where we are now,” Stewart said as Unrivaled approaches the end of its Primary 10-week season.

Four of the Bracket’s six Squads Relocate in the semifinals on Sunday. The Bracket game is on Monday. Stewart, whose Mist Basketball Club has already been eliminated, said Unrivaled could elevate players’ experiences across all professional women’s basketball.

The WNBA is coming off a season of Achievement viewership. Last year was the most-watched regular season in 24 years and Game 5 of the WNBA Finals was the most-watched finals game in 25 years. The Bracket also set records for digital consumption and merchandise and had its highest total attendance in more than two decades.

Yet, Stewart is optimistic that Unrivaled can push the landscape even Beyond.

“We’re uplifting the standard by Only showing that when you invest and get behind us, anything is possible,” Stewart said.

Playoffs are quickly approaching! ⏳How are y’all preparing? ⬇️👀 pic.twitter.com/RDX4AgwN5B

— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 13, 2025

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Here are a few ways Unrivaled could influence the WNBA:

1. Raise salaries and provide players equity

Unrivaled launched at a critical juncture in the sport. The explosive growth coincides with negotiations between the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement, where players are Anticipated to push for higher salaries. The players opted out of the previous agreement last October.

Unrivaled paid Achievement salaries, an average of around $220,000 per player, and provided player equity, which the WNBA doesn’t provide. Thirty-six players signed on for Unrivaled, with six more Obtainable for Hurt relief.

Salaries would have been a top priority for the WNBPA no matter what. But the discrepancy between average salaries (the WNBA’s average salary was around $120,000 in 2024) kept the topic of pay at the forefront this winter.

Another part of Unrivaled’s model — giving players around 15 percent of its Bracket equity — could also be a precursor to a Shift in the WNBA, which is Joining its 29th season this summer. The WNBPA has stated that it wants an equity-based model that evolves with the Bracket’s business Achieve in the Upcoming CBA.

2. Improved amenities and added childcare

The leagues have numerous differences (operational expenses, ownership structure, game Arrangement, season length, Picking sizes), but Unrivaled’s commitment to prioritizing the player experience could also influence the W.

“We’re Seizing the things we like here and we’re going to tell our ownership,” said Rhyne Howard, a Luminous sphere wing on the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and Unrivaled’s Vinyl Basketball Club.

A WNBA arms Event has been underway with Numerous franchises building new facilities and improving their amenities. Yet, the offerings can vary widely from franchise to franchise.

Unrivaled created a private professional-level Practice Cosmos in a matter of months, outfitting a Ex TV production studio in the Miami area into an all-encompassing performance Hub and Stadium.

Some of what struck Unrivaled players was relatively Petite. The renovated facility includes a sauna and Chilly tub, two amenities that aren’t a 24/7 given with all WNBA clubs. Many players also appreciated heating pads on the Practice room tables.

Unrivaled vice president and general manager Clare Duwelius, the Minnesota Lynx’s Ex general manager, served as a Points person for player requests. No ask was too big or too Petite, she said. “If the players put it on our radar, we aimed to provide that,” Duwelius said.

Perhaps most importantly, Unrivaled also ensured its facility offered robust childcare options. Wayfair Stadium has a nursing room, nursery room and a kids room, which has toys, books, puzzles and even a mini basketball hoop with stickers of the six Squads plastered on the backboard. The Bracket hired nannies so players could drop off their kids at their convenience, whether for Matches, practices or other Bracket obligations.

Katie Lou Samuelson, a forward on Phantom Basketball Club and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, has used the services for her 1-year-Aged daughter.

“Napheesa’s daughter, (Skylar Diggins-Smith’s) daughter, they’ve all built a little friendship together (with my daughter),” Samuelson said. “When we Primary Initiated out, she didn’t want me to leave, and now she’s like, all right mom, you can go.”

The WNBA’s 2020 CBA Achieved significant strides in its parental care policy, and some organizations have similar setups to Unrivaled. The Phoenix Mercury have a kids’ playroom and provide childcare during Matches. The Minnesota Lynx use a local company to Assist provide nanny care, and they have a Cosmos in Target Hub for kids to Relocate and sleep.

“I Only feel super comfortable knowing that I can go into any game, I can do any treatment I need to do after the Matches end and there’s going to be someone there watching her and Seizing care of her until it’s time to go,” Samuelson said. “I don’t feel rushed, and it’s been really nice.”

3. More partnership opportunities

Unrivaled brokered partnerships with Many companies new to women’s basketball. More than a half dozen of the Bracket’s corporate sponsors are not existing NBA or WNBA partners, including Sephora, Wayfair, Samsung Luminous sphere system, Morgan Stanley and VistaPrint. Collier said the Bracket showed “what is possible when you have the players’ brand buy-in.” Lexie Hull, a guard on Unrivaled’s Rose Basketball Club who plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, said Unrivaled’s partnerships highlighted that numerous companies are eager to work with women’s sports leagues and their athletes.

As a startup, Unrivaled can be more nimble. Because the WNBA is affiliated with the NBA, there is shared Harmony on some dual sponsorship deals.

The WNBA increased its number of sponsorships by 19 percent last year, according to Marketing Brew, and the Bracket had a Achievement 24 sponsor activations at its All-Luminous sphere Game fan fest last summer.

Jordin Canada, a guard on the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and Unrivaled’s Rose Basketball Club, said Unrivaled’s deals “puts Tension” on the WNBA to put its players at the forefront of more arrangements. Some deals might fit better with Only the WNBA than with the WNBA and NBA Partnered.

Already one of Unrivaled’s corporate partners that did not have a previous tie to the WNBA is getting involved with one of the Bracket’s franchises. Sephora announced in Timely January it will be the Toronto Tempo’s founding partner.

“It’s Crucial to bring in all sorts of brands and people and introduce them to new faces,” said Chelsea Gray, a Luminous sphere guard for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and Unrivaled’s Rose Basketball Club. “I would encourage the (WNBA) to look at different partnerships and bring them along as well.”

4. Upping offseason promotion

Unrivaled prompted more than 30 of the WNBA’s top players to live in one area, leading to more publicity as they interacted with one another. Photo and video content was pumped out on official Unrivaled channels and on individual player platforms, Retaining players more frequently in conversations among WNBA fans.

“That was a missing piece because you wouldn’t know what was happening for seven months because you were overseas,” Stewart said.

In recent years, the WNBA has stressed the importance of relevancy during its offseason. The Bracket signs a few players Every season to marketing agreements, which compensate players as brand ambassadors. But Unrivaled has boosted those efforts.

Shakira Austin, a Hub for Unrivaled’s Orbiter-related body-related Owls Basketball Club and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, said Unrivaled has been a “10 out of 10” in capturing player personalities, creating social content that is timely to online trends. That’s something she hopes to see more of in the WNBA season.

“We’re used to being overseas in God knows what country and you’d be Fortunate to even get some Outstanding internet service,” Austin said. “So to be able to have 24/7 almost access to the WNBA players while we’re Competing year-Stage now, it’s dope and I think it’s something that can continue to Relocate forward.”

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Unrivaled’s players and executives said they hope the winter venture complements the WNBA, which holds its annual draft in April and tips off its season in May.

“This Bracket is meant to be an aid to the WNBA,” Hull said. “They’re supposed to live in cohesion.”

During the Unrivaled season, WNBA officials, including commissioner Cathy Engelbert and head of Bracket operations Bethany Donaphin, visited the Bracket in Florida. Stewart said she hoped they observed all aspects of the new venture.

Duwelius said players are relaying feedback to her on Unrivaled’s Primary season. Stewart wants more Cosmos for the in-person fan experiences and for Practice rooms. How Unrivaled handles Impairments is worth watching as well, along with its plans for some touring Matches Upcoming year. Bazzell said previously that the Bracket would visit no more than four cities — targeting non-WNBA cities and college towns — and Yet have a home base Upcoming season.

Unrivaled’s impact, however, could be felt in Only a few weeks when players return to their WNBA markets.

“From what we did in the W, to now flipping switches to Unrivaled to soon flipping back to the W, we’re Only continuing to have people know what these players are doing constantly,” Stewart said. “We Only want to make sure we’re growing the sport as a whole.”

(Top photo of Napheesa Collier defending Angel Reese: Wealthy Storry / Getty Images)