Quick Read
- Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, begins its second season on January 5, 2026, concluding March 3.
- The league expanded from six to eight teams and introduced a development player pool for 2026.
- WNBA stars like Paige Bueckers, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins are participating, with Napheesa Collier sidelined due to injury.
- Unrivaled offers players equity in the league and six-figure contracts, with some exceeding WNBA rookie deals.
- Games will be broadcast on TNT and truTV, stream on HBO Max, and include a first-ever tour stop in Philadelphia on January 30.
The WNBA season may have faded into the rearview mirror, but for fans of elite women’s basketball, the action never truly stops. Filling the void of the traditional offseason, Unrivaled Basketball has emerged not just as a compelling alternative, but as a groundbreaking movement. Born from the vision of WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, this 3-on-3 league offers a domestic haven for players to hone their skills, earn substantial income, and gain equity in a burgeoning enterprise, all without the need to venture overseas. What began as an innovative experiment in 2025 has rapidly evolved, with its second season in 2026 promising even greater scale, star power, and competitive intensity.
Unrivaled’s inaugural season proved the concept’s viability, drawing significant attention and a dedicated audience. Now, as the league tips off its 2026 campaign, it’s clear that the initial success was merely a prelude to a larger ambition. From expanded rosters to a strategic road trip, Unrivaled is charting a course that redefines the offseason landscape for women’s professional basketball, ensuring the sport’s brightest talents remain in the spotlight year-round.
Unrivaled’s Soaring Ambitions: Expansion and Evolution in Season Two
The 2026 Unrivaled season marks a significant leap forward for the league, demonstrating its robust growth and strategic foresight. Originally slated for 2027, the expansion from six to eight teams was accelerated by a year, a testament to the league’s financial performance exceeding initial projections. Alex Bazzell, Unrivaled’s president and husband to co-founder Napheesa Collier, noted to ESPN that the league ‘outperformed its financial projections last season,’ necessitating the addition of 12 new roster spots. This rapid expansion underscores Unrivaled’s commitment to becoming ‘the home for all of the best players in the world.’
Beyond simply adding more teams, Unrivaled has proactively addressed challenges identified in its inaugural season. A critical innovation for 2026 is the introduction of a development player pool. Last year, the league grappled with injuries and illnesses, even leading to a cancelled game and multiple walkovers in the 1-on-1 tournament. This new pool of six dedicated players will train in Miami, ready to step in for any club facing absences, and notably, will receive a full salary regardless of their game time. This strategic move ensures competitive integrity and player well-being throughout the demanding nine-week season.
While Miami remains its primary hub, Unrivaled is also beginning to extend its geographical footprint. For the first time, the league will embark on a tour stop, bringing two games to Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 30. This move, as Bazzell shared with USA Today, is part of a broader vision to ‘get our players in front of bigger crowds’ and ‘grow the ecosystem and the fandom of women’s basketball’ in larger venues across different markets. It’s a clear signal that Unrivaled sees itself not just as a Florida-based league, but as a national, and potentially international, force in women’s sports.
Star Power and Financial Empowerment: Who’s Playing (and Who Isn’t) in 2026
The 2026 Unrivaled roster is a dazzling constellation of WNBA talent, featuring both established legends and rising stars. Fans can look forward to seeing the likes of Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, Skylar Diggins, Aaliyah Boston, and Breanna Stewart grace the Unrivaled court. The league has also successfully attracted a new wave of elite players, including the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Unrivaled Draft for the new Breeze BC team. Other significant additions include rookie sensations Dominique Malonga, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Kelsey Mitchell, alongside the return of Cameron Brink, who missed last season due to injury.
However, the season also sees some notable absences. Co-founder Napheesa Collier, a dominant force in the inaugural season and winner of the 1-on-1 tournament, will be sidelined as she recovers from ankle surgery. Similarly, Angel Reese and Sabrina Ionescu, key players from last year, have opted not to return. The sport’s most popular player, Caitlin Clark, has reportedly declined a seven-figure contract offer from Unrivaled, according to a Front Office Sports report from October, choosing not to participate this season. Despite these absences, the depth of talent remains undeniable, promising high-stakes, competitive basketball.
Perhaps one of Unrivaled’s most revolutionary aspects is its commitment to player compensation and empowerment. The league offers players equity, making them stakeholders in the league’s success, and contracts that are often comparable to, or even exceed, WNBA deals. For some, like Paige Bueckers, her first year of a three-year Unrivaled contract reportedly surpasses her entire four-year WNBA rookie deal, as reported by ESPN. Last season, the average player salary was $220,000, and Bazzell confirmed to Front Office Sports that salaries are set to rise further as the business continues to outperform projections. The championship team will also see their prize money double, with each player taking home an additional $100,000, reinforcing the league’s player-first financial model.
Navigating the Court: Schedule, Rules, and How to Watch the Action
The 2026 Unrivaled season promises a compact, action-packed schedule, running from Monday, January 5, through the championship game on Wednesday, March 3. Games will predominantly be played on Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, ensuring a consistent rhythm for fans to follow. Key dates include the Philadelphia tour stop on January 30 and the highly anticipated 1-on-1 tournament running from February 11-14.
For those eager to catch the games, Unrivaled has robust broadcast and streaming options. All games will be televised on TNT and truTV, continuing Turner Sports’ significant investment in women’s basketball coverage. Streaming access is available via HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s subscription service, and Sling’s Blue plan, which includes TNT and truTV. International viewers can also tune in live via the Unrivaled YouTube channel, ensuring global accessibility.
The league adheres to a distinctive 3-on-3 format, played on a slightly smaller court (72 by 49.2 feet compared to the WNBA’s 94 by 50 feet). Games consist of four quarters: the first three are seven minutes long, while the fourth quarter utilizes the exciting ‘Elam Ending’ format. Here, 11 points are added to the leading score after three quarters, and the first team to reach this target score wins. Other rule variations include an 18-second shot clock (resetting to 12 seconds on offensive rebounds) and a simplified one-shot free throw system, with the value of the free throw matching the shot attempt (two points for a fouled two-pointer, three for a three-pointer, and one for an ‘and-one’ situation). Tickets for games, which offer access to two matchups per day, are available through official marketplace Ticketmaster, as well as StubHub and SeatGeek, with prices varying based on the slate and seating.
Beyond the Regular Season: The 1-on-1 Tournament and Team Dynamics
Beyond the primary 3-on-3 team competition, the Unrivaled season is punctuated by the return of its hugely popular 1-on-1 tournament in February. This individual showcase, which delivered some of the most viral moments of the inaugural season, boasts an impressive $350,000 prize pool, with the winner taking home $200,000, the runner-up $50,000, and semifinalists earning $25,000 each. An additional $10,000 is awarded to the winner’s teammates, fostering a sense of collective support even in individual competition.
The eight Unrivaled teams for 2026 feature dynamic rosters, crafted through a unique system where playoff teams from the previous year could protect two players, while non-playoff teams retained one. Newcomers Breeze BC and Hive BC have injected fresh talent into the league. The defending champion Rose BC, despite losing Angel Reese, returns a strong core with Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, and Azura Stevens. The Lunar Owls, who dominated the regular season last year but fell short in the playoffs, face a new challenge without the injured Napheesa Collier, relying on Skylar Diggins and new additions to lead the charge. Teams like the Mist, led by Breanna Stewart, and the Laces, with Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young, are poised for strong runs, showcasing the depth and competitive balance that defines Unrivaled.
Unrivaled is more than just an offseason league; it represents a profound paradigm shift in women’s professional sports. By offering substantial financial incentives, player equity, and a high-profile domestic platform, it directly addresses historical inequities and empowers athletes to maximize their careers. This player-centric model not only enhances their economic agency but also elevates the visibility and appreciation of women’s basketball, proving that innovation driven by athletes themselves can create a thriving, sustainable ecosystem that benefits everyone involved, from the court to the boardroom.