One can never forget the look on Napheesa Collier‘s face when she walked off the court. It wasn’t only the thrill of amassing $200,000, it was a sense of satisfaction as the co-founder of the league. Along with Breanna Stewart, she has created a platform where women’s basketball players can thrive, earn a decent living, and showcase their skills. “Anyone can win,” she’d said. In that moment, she must have thought about the players who would follow in her footsteps, winning life-changing prizes and feeling the same sense of empowerment.

The Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament was a groundbreaking event that brought together 23 of the best players in the world. And Collier, the Minnesota Lynx and Lunar Owls star, emerged victorious, taking home the largest one-day prize in women’s basketball history. The league has shattered the glass ceiling of meager salaries that long-held WNBA talents back, rewriting the rules with a bold experiment. Born from the stagnant status quo, this platform provides a stage for the W’s best players to shine during the offseason.

For many, it’s a welcome reprieve from the familiar grind of playing abroad in pursuit of extra income. While the W’s top players earn around $115,000 per season, Unrivaled’s participants can take home a whopping $200,000. For Napheesa Collier, the league’s first champion, this means a potential annual haul of over $400,000. Napheesa Collier capped off her dominant run in the Unrivaled League’s inaugural one-on-one tournament by defeating Aaliyah Edwards in a thrilling three-game series.

The deciding game was a masterclass performance, with Collier delivering a resounding 8-0 knockout blow to claim the championship and the purse. The win was a stark reminder of something insane- Collier earned just $8,000 more in WNBA salary all of last year! “My entire WNBA salary is what I just got in 30 minutes of playing one-on-one,” Collier said. “Which is insane to even say. And same for [playing] overseas. A lot of people, this is their full contract, so you’re playing seven months for this kind of money.”

Despite the loss, runner-up Aaliyah Edwards took home $50,000, while semifinalists Arike Ogunbowale and Azurá Stevens each earned $25,000. Also, Collier’s 3-on-3 teammates – Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Shakira Austin – each received a $10,000 bonus. This reward comes in addition to their average salary. However, Collier’s vision for the Unrivaled League extends beyond just the pay.

Seeking to create a culture where women’s basketball is celebrated in all forms, Collier had earlier said, “You see guys or boys playing in the parks — like pickup or one-on-ones, and you don’t see that on the women’s side as much. That’s something we’re trying to change, just that atmosphere where everything’s not as organized basketball, but just playing in your backyard or at the park“. 

Breaking the common notion and despite the disparity between Unrivaled’s high payouts and the WNBA’s relatively modest salaries, Collier’s efforts have also found an unlikely ally in WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Hoops sisterhood is for everyone to see

According to Collier, Engelbert was instrumental in supporting the Unrivaled League from its inception. “She was really supportive,” Collier revealed in an interview with Boardroom. Engelbert’s backing was more than just verbal, as she also offered to leverage her vast network of business connections to help the league get off the ground. She had also asked if there was anything specific she could do to help. “She was really open with that from the beginning,” Collier said.

Collier recalled Engelbert’s guidance, saying she shared valuable insights from her experience running the WNBA. “She kinda gave us the ins and outs of what you’re gonna need,” Collier explained. From practical considerations like game-day security and medical provisions to more nuanced aspects of league management, Engelbert’s expertise must have proved invaluable.

Notably, back in May, Engelbert made a public statement of support for Unrivaled, amplifying the league’s launch on her official X account. Reposting a video from ‘Unrivaled Basketball’, Engelbert sent a clear message with her caption: the WNBA is firmly behind its stars, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, and their bold new venture. “On behalf of the WNBA, we applaud WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart on launching Unrivaled. The momentum for women’s basketball has never been greater, and we will continue to work with them to showcase the amazing players of the WNBA,” she wrote.