Traveling overseas to play basketball during the offseason is nothing new for WNBA players. Rather than enjoying an off-season with loved ones and restoring their bodies, many players must travel to foreign countries to supplement their salaries. Even the league’s most accomplished players like Sue Bird and Sheryl Swoopes spent years playing in Europe, experiencing competition, fan engagement and higher pay opportunities that were unavailable in the United States.
Cue Unrivaled. An innovative 3 v. 3 league based in Miami that was designed by athletes for athletes. With a player-focused structure, Unrivaled provides WNBA players with a domestic alternative to sharpen their game and sustain financial security during the offseason. Backed by high profile investors such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Alex Morgan and Dawn Staley, the league offers its players average salaries of $222,000. Each athlete also receives equity in Unrivaled.
Playing abroad takes a toll on athlete's wellbeing with the international and WNBA seasons often overlapping. There is no downtime to rest or experience life beyond basketball. Addressing this concern head-on, the Unrivaled season spans for just eight weeks. Having a shorter season gives players dedicated time to spend on rest, recovery, and family. Co-founders Naphessa Collier and Breanna Stewart have emphasized a player-centered approach, highlighted by access to state-of-the-art amenities, including recovery rooms, and childcare options.
Unrivaled could change the landscape of women’s basketball forever. With the second season underway, the league has recruited top talent like Paige Bueckers, Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum. Teresa Weatherspoon, head coach of Vinyl BC, is an accomplished former player. Her remarkable career earned her an induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010. The league has an elite competitive foundation for players seeking an alternative to the traditional overseas pipeline. The league is halfway through their second season now, and Unrivaled continues to signal an exciting new era of professional women’s basketball.
Photo Credits to Unrivaled.
About the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Founded in 1999, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF), located in Knoxville, Tennessee, honors the greatest players, coaches, contributors, and officials in women’s basketball history. The WBHOF is the only facility of its kind, recognizing excellence at all levels of the sport, from high school and collegiate competition to professional and international play. The Hall is home to more than 200 inductees and works to preserve the legacy of women’s basketball through its museum, educational programming, special events, and annual induction ceremony.
Contact
Zadie Fiveash, Communications Manager
zadie@wbhof.com
865-633-9000 ext 236
