The Unrivaled League is almost here and everyone is wondering what’s in it for the WNBA players to be in the new league. Started by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart in 2023, the new league promises to solve a lot of problems faced by female athletes. But are they really equipped to become what it takes to be the ideal off-season league? The president of the league and the Collier’s husband Alex Bazzell recently opened up about the league in an episode of Good Game with Sarah Spain.

“We have insurance policies in place for if the players get hurt. We protect them in that way,” said Bazzell. Even the biggest pro ballers have not been immune to getting an injury during off-season games. That’s a risk of losing major opportunities, which is the biggest problem causing distress to players. However, Bazzell did not specify the details of the insurance being offered to the Unrivaled players.

In the WNBA, players receive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with the league covering premiums up to a 5% annual increase. As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it provides a full salary during maternity leave. Meanwhile, the Unrivaled too has mothers playing in the league. Let’s see what Bazzell is offering to the mothers of the 3×3 basketball league.

“We have childcare on site for them to make sure that they’re comfortable,” added Bazzell. Players like Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith, among others, are mothers who can benefit from a facility like that. They’ve even partnered with a prominent Miami hospital to ensure everything from game-day healthcare to recovery is covered in their Miami venue.

Although facilities like childcare can be very useful to the working moms of basketball but the biggest issue is- Off-season injuries. Let’s dive deeper into the problem that’s making players lose on career-defining opportunities.

Digging deeper into one of the biggest problems in basketball

Back in October, multiple NBA stars ended up missing out on games because of off-season injuries. Kristaps Porziņģis of the Celtics underwent surgery in June and missed all NBA games until November 25. He scored 16 points in his first game, highlighting the potential teams and players lose from off-season injuries. Christian Wood of the Lakers also missed several games due to a knee injury he sustained in September.

But the NBA insurance policy for players does its best to support players in case of injuries. Players are compensated for their loss regardless of whether they incur the injury during or off the season. There is even a ‘loss-of-value’ insurance in place that protects against injuries that impact their ability to secure future contracts. The agreements between the NBA Players Association and the league usually secure players against most such accidents.

NBA players are also entitled to compensation in case of a career-ending injury. Their salaries are guaranteed payments. This means that they get paid even if they suffer an injury that prevents them from playing most or all of the season’s games.

The United States is often criticized for its expensive healthcare. It is crucial that sportspersons receive proper healthcare from their respective leagues. While most signed players are expected to play the inaugural season of Unrivaled, tensions loom on a few. Cameron Brink is still on the mend from her ACL injury. Let’s hope we get to see all of the mini-rosters doing their best starting the kick-off on Friday.