Unrivaled is the latest effort to spotlight women’s basketball, especially during the WNBA offseason. Founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league will feature a thrilling three-on-three format. The inaugural season will tip off on Friday, January 17, with the action continuing to the league final on Monday, March 17. Some of the biggest names in the WNBA have been placed on six teams set to compete, and the exciting 2025 season will take place in Miami.

Unrivaled aims to address a key challenge faced by WNBA players: the financial gap during the off-season. With the WNBA season lasting less than six months, many players turn to lucrative overseas contracts to supplement their lower salaries at home. Unrivaled provides an alternative, allowing players to stay competitive and earn during the off-season without needing to play abroad. But just how much will players make in this exciting new league? Let’s take a look.

Unrivaled’s groundbreaking salaries

The league is making waves with its impressive salary pool. According to president Alex Bazzell in an interview with SB Nation, the total salary pool for the league exceeds $8 million. And that’s just the beginning—the 36 players selected for the inaugural season will also receive equity and revenue-sharing payments, ensuring they’re rewarded beyond just their salaries.

“We are really changing the outlook of the ecosystem holistically,” said Bazzell,  “You’re seeing more leagues bumping up their pay because that’s where the space is now. We’re proud to play a part in that growth of just the economics of these players being paid a lot of money to play basketball. That’s where we want to get to. It’s great to have brand deals, it’s great to have all this off-court stuff, but at the end of the day, we want to be able to pay them high salaries on the court.”

While each player’s salary won’t be identical, the average salary of $222,222—assuming all 36 spots are filled—will surpass the regular max contract of $214,466 for the 2025 WNBA season. This difference highlights the league’s ambitious goal to offer higher pay and provide a more lucrative opportunity for its players.

The league will span two months, offering fans nonstop excitement. Each team is set to play 14 regular-season games, followed by a quick but intense playoff series scheduled from March 16-18. Adding to the buzz, the midseason schedule includes a thrilling one-on-one tournament, where the winner will take home a whopping $250,000 prize. As the league builds momentum both on and off the court, the players are set to benefit from Unrivaled’s fresh and innovative approach.

Equity, stardom, and basketball: Unrivaled’s bold vision

With Unrivaled’s inaugural 3-on-3 season tipping off on Jan. 17, players might want to pack calculators along with their jerseys. Why? Because every single one of them has equity in the league—some more than others, depending on their star power or marketability. It’s not just about playing basketball anymore; it’s about building a shared business.

From Angel Reese to rising talents, players are taking to platforms like TikTok, rallying a global audience and promoting the league in ways never seen before. This unique structure brings everyone together—players, sponsors, and executives—as true partners.

And with player shares set to fully vest in just four years, don’t expect Unrivaled to be a flash in the pan. Especially with a certain No. 22 from the Indiana Fever keeping a watchful eye from afar.

If Unrivaled has shown us anything, it’s that a startup women’s league can make waves even before its first game. Every match is set to be televised nationally in prime time, and the league has already locked in big-name partners like Ally Financial, State Farm, Miller Lite, Wilson, Sephora, and Samsung.

It’s proof that with the growing buzz around women’s sports, strong word-of-mouth, and strategic investments, the possibilities are endless. From seed rounds to Series A funding, Unrivaled is building momentum that’s turning heads across the sports world.

Unrivaled isn’t just reshaping the game on the court; it’s paving the way for a new era of financial empowerment in women’s sports. By aligning players, sponsors, and executives under a shared vision, the league is setting an example for collaboration and innovation. As the inaugural season tips off, Unrivaled is not only driving excitement but also fostering a sustainable model that could inspire future leagues worldwide.