Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, has seen major success in its second season. Founded by two of the WNBA’s star players, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled gives players a chance to improve their skills on the court during the offseason.
Unrivaled plays in Miami, Florida, and has eight teams made up of six players each. It has unique rules that make the game more fun to follow, ends each game with a “walk-off win” and provides more interactive experiences for its fans. In 2026, the league sold out games in Philadelphia and Brooklyn on its first tour. On March 4, the Mist Basketball Club won Unrivaled’s second championship, and Stewart won the game’s MVP.
The league may be called Unrivaled, but in reality, they’re competing against the WNBA.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has been seeking a better percentage of the WNBA’s revenue for almost two years. In October 2024, the players decided to “opt out” of their old CBA after noticing how much the league had grown, mainly due to the impact of stars like Caitlin Clark.
WNBA players would fly to Europe or Asia and play during the offseason to supplement their income. In 2023, to allow the players to stay closer to home, Stewart and Collier came up with Unrivaled, which played its inaugural season in 2025. It wasn’t only established as a source of extra practice for the players—it was for better pay. Unrivaled is helping players make more money in two months than they do in the five months of the WNBA season.
In 2025, the WNBA was the most successful it has ever been. Attendance rose by 48%, and the league made enough money to share a larger percentage of its income with the players. If it doesn’t reach an agreement with its players, the WNBA may not play in 2026.
“Obviously, we’re going to continue to negotiate. I can’t emphasize that enough. Like, we’re not just settling. I want to be very clear about that,” said First Vice President of the WNBPA, Kelsey Plum.
CBA negotiations are ongoing, and the March 10 deadline will determine the fate of the 2026 WNBA season.
