In what’s shaping up to be the basketball version of a plot twist, Unrivaled, the new professional 3-on-3 women’s league that’s ready to storm the courts on January 17th, has announced a major surprise: 36 WNBA players will now participate, up from the previously announced 30. Why? Because the league somehow outdid its financial projections—yes, it’s already making more money than it expected before a single ball has been dribbled.
Napheesa Collier, who’s not only co-founder but also a current WNBA star, broke the news with a grin that basically said, “Oh yeah, we’re just getting started.” In a video posted on Unrivaled’s Twitter (or X, depending on how you feel about Elon Musk), Collier cheerfully announced, “We’re now moving from 30 to 36 roster spots because we outperformed financially.” You heard that right: they’re swimming in enough cash to give six more elite athletes a shot at three months of basketball stardom.
Now, for the fun part—Caitlin Clark. If you’ve been keeping up with basketball, you know she’s the next big thing. Collier and co-founder Breanna Stewart are working overtime to woo her into joining their league. The price? A cool million bucks for three months, plus player equity, because apparently being the most hyped player since sliced bread still means you’re getting paid like you’re working part-time at the mall.
“It’s wild, honestly. Caitlin’s making other teams so much money that they’re having to book bigger arenas just to fit all the people who want to see her play,” Collier said recently, as if speaking directly to everyone still baffled by the fact that Clark’s annual salary is lower than what some benchwarmers in other leagues make. “I mean, c’mon, she should be one of the highest-paid players in the world by now. The numbers don’t lie.”
With only seven more players left to be announced, speculation is swirling around whether Clark will take the million-dollar bait. If she does, expect the league to blow up even more than it already has. We’re talking Messi-level deals for a player who’s single-handedly selling out arenas faster than you can say “step-back three.”
But don’t forget, there’s already a laundry list of top-tier talent ready to hit the Unrivaled courts. The current roster reads like a WNBA All-Star voting sheet: Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Brittney Griner, just to name a few. It’s like the basketball Avengers assembling, except this time, they’re playing 3-on-3 with fewer injuries and no world-ending villains.
The league, co-founded by Stewart and Collier (who apparently don’t sleep), will run for eight weeks in Miami. And it’s not just for fun—every player will make at least $100,000 in that short span, with the possibility of equity in the league. So basically, it’s a mix of basketball, business, and cold hard cash, all wrapped up in some good old-fashioned hoops.
Oh, and by the way, Unrivaled snagged a media rights deal with TNT. Yes, that TNT. So not only will fans get to see these star-studded matchups twice a week on prime-time TV, but the league is also reportedly raking in more than $100 million for those rights. That’s a lot of zeroes for a league that hasn’t even played a game yet.
“It’s set up for success,” Liberty point guard Courtney Vandersloot said during the WNBA Finals. Understatement of the year, Courtney. Between the monster media deal, the top talent, and the financial flexibility to expand before tip-off, Unrivaled is shaping up to be a game-changer for women’s basketball—and maybe sports as a whole.
With names like A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu still missing from the list, it’s clear the league isn’t done shaking things up. The next few weeks are likely to see more stars announced, possibly leading up to a big reveal. If Caitlin Clark shows up with that million-dollar grin, we might witness the sports business version of a mic drop.
In the meantime, fans will have to sit tight and refresh their Twitter feeds, waiting for the full roster, ticket sales, and all the juicy details. One thing’s for sure, though: Unrivaled is about to make some serious noise in the basketball world—and if you’re not watching, you’re missing out.
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