Unrivaled is transforming women’s pro sports with luxury amenities and player focus, raising the stakes for the WNBA.
Miami: The dry heat in the sauna made sweat trickle down Courtney Williams’ face. She was relaxing on the wooden bench after a practice with the Lunar Owls. A massage was next on her agenda after finishing her Unrivaled media duties.
Being part of this new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league seems pretty awesome. Liberty star Breanna Stewart co-founded it, aiming to challenge the WNBA. Williams mentioned, “They literally are laying out the red carpet.” She would have been playing in China this offseason if Unrivaled hadn’t reached out. “We have everything to become the best versions of ourselves,” she added.
Unrivaled Basketball is launching at a time when interest in women’s sports is booming. It’s already making waves in the women’s pro basketball scene. With stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner on board, the league kicks off its first season in Miami this Friday.
The standout feature from Unrivaled’s preseason has been the luxury it offers players. Griner noted that this setup is going to “put pressure” on the WNBA. She said, “Unrivaled is showing that you don’t need a lot of time to pull resources together to put out a good product.”
The Unrivaled court will host 850 fans, creating an intimate atmosphere for the games. They’ve even got a glam room for players to enjoy. Unrivaled isn’t just about giving players another way to earn money; it’s also focused on skill development and enhancing the player experience.
Unrivaled aims to set a new standard for how women athletes should be treated. Keeping top WNBA stars in the U.S. helps boost year-round visibility for women’s basketball. Players were impressed during the recruitment process, according to Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell.
“They were shocked in a positive way by how much we’ve thought about their needs,” he said. “It’s all about showing them this is the best option to maximize their offseason.”
No detail was overlooked in the facilities, which are even better than some WNBA teams’ setups. Games will be played on an elevated stage, and there’s a fully equipped weight room, recovery room with saunas, and hot and cold tubs. Each team has its own locker room, plus a glam room that could fit right into New York Fashion Week.
There’s also a massage therapist and chef on-site to cater to the athletes. Lexie Hull from the Indiana Fever said, “They’ve really held up their side of the bargain. They’re giving us everything we need on and off the court.”
Allisha Gray, an Olympic gold medalist, is excited to join the Owls. She said, “It’s just nice that we get the treatment we deserve.” With the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement ending after the 2025 season, Unrivaled’s focus on player experience could impact negotiations between the players’ association and WNBA officials.
“It’s perfect timing,” said Courtney Vandersloot, a 14-year WNBA veteran. “Unrivaled treats us like first-class athletes. It’s a great time for women’s sports.”
Unrivaled has reportedly raised over $35 million, with investors like Coco Gauff and Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the cause. Bazzell mentioned that the league has an $8 million salary pool, averaging around $222,222 per player, which is significantly higher than the WNBA’s average of about $119,500.
Players will also receive equity in the league, although the specifics are still unclear. Unrivaled claims to offer the highest average salary in women’s professional team sports. Some players have even received offers from international clubs for more money to play overseas.
“We’ve already made an impact,” Bazzell said. “We’ve reached a level of success that probably no one thought we could. Now, we’re focused on where to take that success next.”
