What is Unrivaled? Details of $340M Basketball League Backed by Stephen Curry & Serena Williams

Women’s basketball is riding a wave of momentum like never before. The arrival of stars such as Caitlin Clark has fueled record-breaking viewership, soaring merchandise sales, and visibility. This surge has opened the door to new opportunities—no longer confined to the WNBA, the sport is expanding into fresh leagues that give athletes more visibility and fans more access.

Among the boldest of these ventures is Unrivaled, a league born from this moment of rapid growth. Designed to reimagine how women’s basketball can be played and consumed, it offers athletes a powerful new platform while pushing the game to new audiences. With its second campaign approaching, the question becomes clear: what exactly is Unrivaled, and how does it set itself apart?

What is Unrivaled Basketball League?

Unrivaled is a player-founded 3×3 women’s basketball league, created by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart on July 6, 2023. Built with the vision of providing athletes a competitive offseason platform and a substantial payday, the league reimagines the game in a way that is both player-friendly and fan-focused. Unlike traditional formats, Unrivaled puts innovation at the center of its identity.

The league is played on a condensed full court measuring 72 feet long and 49.2 feet wide, shorter than international standards, encouraging a faster, more dynamic style of play. Unrivaled also shakes up the traditional game format with a fresh twist. Games open with three fast-paced, seven-minute quarters before shifting into a dramatic “winning score” finish. Instead of watching the clock tick down, fans watch teams race toward a target—11 points added to the leader’s total after three quarters. Just pure, high-stakes basketball until the final bucket.

Unrivaled’s rulebook also takes a bold departure from the norm, especially at the free-throw line. No matter where the foul happens (on a layup or beyond the arc), players shoot just once. That single attempt counts for two points for a foul on a 2-point field goal or three points if the foul occurred on a 3-point attempt. If the basket goes in and the foul is called, the free throw adds one more.

Discipline plays a big role, too. Players are disqualified after six fouls, but with only three teammates on the floor, there’s no subbing out. Instead, the player stays in the game, and every extra foul becomes an automatic technical. The pace is equally relentless: an 18-second shot clock keeps possessions moving, and in crunch time, the clock only stops on made shots in the final 30 seconds of each period.

Who are the key backers of Unrivaled?

As noted earlier, Unrivaled was founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, but its backing reaches far beyond women’s basketball. Some of the biggest names in sports have shown their support, including NBA icons Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and former All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Their involvement highlights the league’s growing influence across the broader sports world.

Even Serena Williams—widely regarded as the greatest women’s tennis player of all time—has thrown her weight behind the league. Her endorsement, along with other high-profile supporters, underscores Unrivaled’s credibility and demonstrates how it has captured attention not just from fans but from some of the most influential athletes in the world.

How much is Unrivaled worth? Inside the $340M valuation

According to reports, Unrivaled’s Series B funding has catapulted the league’s valuation to $340 million—up from just $95 million a year ago. Even before Serena Williams joined the investment round, the league had already attracted heavy-hitters like John Skipper, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Coco Gauff, and others. This meteoric rise underscores the league’s massive growth potential and the confidence investors have in its future.

The numbers back it up. In its debut season, with stars like Angel Reese playing, Unrivaled drew 11.9 million viewers and reached 589 million across social media platforms, signaling tremendous fan engagement. With rumors swirling about Caitlin Clark potentially joining in the second season, the league’s value—and its visibility—is poised to climb even higher, making it one of the most exciting ventures in women’s sports today.

When is Unrivaled launch, and how will it work?

Unrivaled officially launched on July 6, 2023, with its first-ever game tipping off on January 17, 2025. The debut season was held entirely at MediaPro Center in Medley, Florida, just outside Miami, but plans are already in motion to expand the league nationwide for the 2026 season.

In 2025, 36 players competed in the league, and that number is set to grow to 42 in 2026. The league currently features six teams, each with six players. Once the participating athletes were confirmed, coaches in Miami divided them into six “pods” and drafted one player from each pod to build their teams. Adding a unique twist, coaches were unaware of which team they would ultimately manage, ensuring fairness, eliminating favoritism, and keeping every team on equal footing.

Jan 17, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Angel Reese (5) of the Rose takes a shot against the Vinyl in the first half of the Unrivaled women’s professional 3v3 basketball league at Wayfair Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images.

Fans eager to catch the action live won’t be disappointed. Unrivaled has secured a six-year broadcast partnership with TNT and truTV, bringing the league straight into living rooms across the country. Monday and Friday matchups air on TNT, while Saturday games are featured on truTV. In addition, every game is available to stream live on MAX, giving fans multiple ways to stay connected to the action.

Why are Curry & Serena backing this project?

Stephen Curry and Serena Williams have long been advocates for equality and fair opportunity for women’s sports. To show their commitment to this cause, they have invested heavily in Unrivaled. This investment is not only a means for them to support something they believe in but also a great financial opportunity. 

The motto of Unrivaled since the beginning has been ‘by the players, for the players’. Their ownership structure is a clear indication of an upcoming trend of athletes investing to be a part of ownership. Unrivaled’s evolution is a clear indication of how the players are willing to create something at their own risk to build a product that satisfies the needs of the player. After all, who understands the players better than themselves?

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