In 2024, I too was like, "What is this Unrivaled thing that I keep hearing about?" Well I'm thrilled that I listened. I do not recall any athletes ever establishing their own professional league. Cofounded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the Unrivaled Women's Basketball League is an unprecedented endeavor. As I watch and enjoy the games I find myself asking, "How in the world did they come up with this amazing idea and implement it in just 2 years? How did they get the investors, come up with team names, choose Miami as the destination spot, come up with the schedules, the rules, and this that and so on and so forth.
Creating an entirely new league from scratch is amazing and unmatched.

I still have so many questions!  

But as one of the first fanatics, I am pleased to provide some foundational information that will help newbies understand how Unrivaled differs from standard professional basketball leagues. (Wait, this reminds me that I also watched the very first WNBA game back in 1997. I distinctly remember Lisa Leslie and other L.A. Sparks players handing basketballs to the little girls on the court. If anything, I am very consistent, lol.)

1. What is Unrivaled?
Unrivaled is a new women's professional basketball league that was launched in January 2025, after 2 years of constructing. The cofounders are WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. This valuable league was created because WNBA women needed an opportunity to earn income in the offseason without having to travel overseas. 

2. Who plays in Unrivaled?
The league is consists of professional WNBA players from a variety of teams, positions, and experience levels.
Along with the cofounders Collier and Stewart, some of the athletes in the 2025 Unrivaled season includes:
+Angel Reese
+Brittney Griner
+Chelsea Gray 
+Skylar Diggins Smith
+Courtney Williams
+Aliyah Boston
+Aaliyah Edwards
+DiJonai Carrington
+Rickea Jackson
and more!

3. How many teams are there?
The opening season for this new professional women's basketball league has 6 teams:
+Laces
+Lunar Owls
+Vinyl
+Mist
+Rose
+Phantom

4. The season is 8 weeks long (from January through March)
5. The games air on TNT, truTV, and Max
6. The teams do not travel. All games are played at Wayfair Arena in Miami, Florida

7-10. How are the Unrivaled games different from the WNBA (or NBA)?
There are several differences between the leagues that quickly stand out:

+Unrivaled is 3 players vs 3 players, rather than 5 on 5
+Each team has a roster of 6 players rather than 12
+It is full court, just as in standard basketball
+The shot clock is 18 seconds rather than 24 seconds
+One free throw counts as 2 points if the player was fouled while attempting a 2-pointer
(same applies to a fouled player attempting a 3, the free throw will be "One for 3"
+The first 3 quarters are 7 minutes long
+The fourth quarter is untimed
+At the end of the 3rd quarter, 11 points are added to the leading team's score, and this sum determines the winning score that is needed

Speaking of wins, the entire league is winning so far.

Bonus: 
How the Unrivaled League and the timing of it is a part of my healing journey:
A League of their Own: Unrivaled Women's Basketball League

🏀🌷🏀🌷🏀🌷🏀🌷
Coming soon:
Beautiful clip art to honor and celebrate my enjoyment of the Unrivaled Basketball League