SEATTLE, WA – October 3, 2024 – Brittney Griner isn’t just sticking to standard five-on-five basketball anymore. The Phoenix Mercury superstar, fresh off another “ho-hum” (read: absolutely dominant) WNBA season, has officially signed on to play in the brand-spanking-new Unrivaled basketball league—a shiny toy for basketball’s elite to show off their three-on-three prowess. And, oh yeah, it’s co-founded by none other than Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
For those unaware, Unrivaled is here to shake things up and give WNBA stars a reason to not pack their bags for, say, Siberia or Istanbul during the offseason. Instead, they can keep ballin’ stateside. The league’s inaugural season tips off in January, just when the basketball world is catching its breath from the WNBA grind. Griner? She’s the 24th big name to join the roster, which still has six spots up for grabs. But if you thought she’d be alone, think again.
Oh no, it’s a star-studded party. The who’s who of the WNBA are rolling in like a well-timed alley-oop. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky? She’s in. Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd? You bet. And if you thought Kelsey Plum, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young would miss out, think again—they’re all in on the action. It’s as if the WNBA All-Star game has been extended, except the stakes just might be higher.
And let’s talk Griner. You’d think someone who just averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in the WNBA would take a breather. But Griner? She doesn’t do “rest.” She does “let’s-go-ball-again.” Apparently, turning into a nine-time All-Star just isn’t enough; she’s still hungry for more court time. And who could blame her?
The idea behind Unrivaled is as ambitious as it gets: let these stars keep playing without hopping on a 14-hour flight to the middle of nowhere just to earn some extra coin. Because—let’s be real—the paycheck overseas tends to dwarf what WNBA players make at home, even though the tides are turning.
Speaking of turning tides, the WNBA is set to receive a massive cash influx. Thanks to a shiny new $200 million media rights deal, salaries are going up. But until they rival the salaries of European teams, Unrivaled and leagues like Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball (remember them? Launched in 2022, they’ve been keeping things interesting, too) are providing a sweet alternative to jet lag and language barriers.
Plus, this is three-on-three basketball. You know, the format that took over the Summer Olympics and gave us a taste of just how thrilling and fast-paced basketball could be when you strip away the noise. Stewart and Collier are betting that fans are itching for more of that action. And with a roster like this? They might just be right. Even if they’re not, at least we’ll get some wildly entertaining basketball, with the sport’s biggest names putting on a show. Who doesn’t love that?
So, will Unrivaled be the next big thing or just another fun offseason experiment? Hard to say. But one thing’s for sure—it won’t be boring. With Griner and company taking the court, this league has all the star power needed to turn heads and make waves. Or at the very least, they’ll keep us entertained as we wait for the WNBA to tip off again.
