Unrivaled Basketball, the 3-on-3 offseason league co-founded by WNBA standouts Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is gearing up for its debut in January 2025. The initial team roster begins to emerge as the league just got another addition on the list of five players. So, who is the sixth addition on the roster?

It’s Kelsey Plum who has joined Unrivaled now. The Las Vegas Aces star filled the sixth seat among 30 available in the league. Kelsey Plum’s decision to participate in the league could significantly boost her earnings, given Unrivaled’s commitment to top-tier player compensation, ensuring a minimum salary of $100,000 per season for every athlete.

The league anticipates a total payout nearing $3 million, establishing itself with among the most lucrative average salaries in women’s professional sports. Three standout players recently announced by Unrivaled—Loyd, Ogunbowale, and Stewart—command annual salaries exceeding $200,000, marking some of the league’s top contracts.

During the offseason, many WNBA players engage in additional play, though their earnings remain notably lower compared to some other professional athletes. Currently, WNBA players earn an average annual salary of approximately $122,000, with some salaries starting to a low minimum of $64,154. However, let’s take a look why the Unrivaled offers such high-standard compensations and its potential of expansion.

Unrivaled’s high-profile backers and expansion potential

Unrivaled high-standard compensation comes obvious as the league’s investor base features prominent figures such as retired NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash, USWNT stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma, and actor Ashton Kutcher and LPGA’s Michelle Wie West. 

The new league also offers WNBA players a chance to remain in the United States during the offseason. Traditionally, many WNBA stars have supplemented their income by playing in European leagues. Unrivaled aims to provide an opportunity for some of these notable athletes to stay closer to home.

The 30-player league began unveiling its star-studded roster on social media last week, starting with founders Stewart and Collier. The announcements continued Thursday through Saturday, revealing top WNBA talents joining Unrivaled. Among the first to join were Chelsea Gray from the Las Vegas Aces, Arike Ogunbowale from the Dallas Wings, and Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm. Earlier in May, the league announced agreements with 10 WNBA All-Stars, leaving at least seven more high-profile players yet to be revealed, along with the additional 18 players who will complete the rosters.

With potential expansion, Unrivaled, which is to be played across three months in Miami, could establish itself as a significant second major professional women’s basketball league.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.