January 17th is just a couple of hours away, and the long-awaited debut of Unrivaled will kick off soon! But even before that, the new 3×3 league was already making a major splash. Co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the league has already secured $28 million in funding in an investment round led by the Berman Family. Its long list of investors includes NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, CEO of Boston Globe Media Linda Henry, and many more. Still, the financial aspect of the league hasn’t halted.

Hours before tipoff, Unrivaled announced yet another game-changer. The 3×3 league,which Alex Bazzell promptly described as “Broadway on steroids,” is partnering with Wayfair. With the contract, the $5.45 billion online furniture giant has also secured the naming rights for the league’s Miami-based venue, which will now be called ‘Wayfair Arena’.

Well, the deal isn’t just limited to signage and logos. It’s a full-fledged partnership that sees the company providing furnishings throughout the facilities, including the Unrivaled content studio, the Samsung Galaxy Courtside Club, and even the players’ lounge, Her Hoop Stats contributor, Alford Corriette tweeted on X.

It’s not a one-way advantage, though. The multi-year arrangement puts the spotlight on Wayfair while aligning the brand with one of the most exciting new sports leagues in the industry. “The barrier of entry for women’s sports is far less than the barriers for men’s,” shared David Levy, the CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) and a key investor in the league, played a pivotal role in negotiating the arrangement.

Absolutely no one can deny that Unrivaled is coming in and breaking traditional ways. Not just the format, it’s welcoming non-traditional sports sponsorships, too. “One of the unique angles that HS&E took was looking for new categories, categories that haven’t spent in sports at all, women or men, really,” Levy elaborated. Brands like Wayfair and Sephora are perfect examples of this shift, as they mark a transition from the usual Oscars to the high-energy sporting world.

But do you know where Unrivaled stands financially now?

Unrivaled makes waves with promised high salaries, luring big-name investors

When Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier claimed that Unrivaled is going to offer lucrative salaries, they weren’t joking. In fact, the latest competition to the WNBA has already proven it before even beginning. The league already boasts a salary pool of over $8 million with an impressive pay structure.

Simply put, the players will earn an average of $220,000 per season, which is higher than the maximum base salary in the WNBA. While many would think of it as a way to lure WNBA stars to make their debut, it isn’t that way. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The innovative approach to player compensation has made Unrivaled a serious threat.

That’s even with the WNBPA already looking forward to a new CBA, where pay equity has been a hot topic. Thanks to this, Unrivaled has been able to secure partnerships with major names like Sprite, Samsung, and even Under Armour. But there’s more to it.

The league’s debut features 36 of the best players from the WNBA, including Brittney Griner and rising stars like Angel Reese. These players will compete on a smaller court with a fast-paced style that’s sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. With all games taking place at the intimate 850-seat Wayfair Arena in Miami, the league promises an exciting and high-energy environment for fans and players alike. What do you think?