The countdown has officially begun! The 3×3 basketball league, Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is gearing up to tip off next Friday. While all eyes are on the star-studded roster and the flashy new concept, there’s one man quietly making big moves behind the scenes: Alex Bazzell. And who is this mystery man, you ask? None other than Napheesa Collier’s husband—because apparently, running a groundbreaking sports league is just another bullet point on his already impressive résumé.
Alex Bazzell: More Than Just a Husband
Alex Bazzell isn’t just hanging around holding water bottles or tweeting motivational quotes. He’s the President of Unrivaled, a title he’s held since the league’s inception in February 2023. With his extensive background as an NBA and WNBA skills coach, Bazzell has been pivotal in transforming the league from a festive idea over wine to a bona fide disruptor in the basketball world.
In a November 2024 episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball Podcast, Bazzell revealed how he and Collier got Breanna Stewart on board. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t through some glossy PowerPoint. It all went down during Christmas 2022, over—you guessed it—a glass of wine in New York.
“[We] talked about what the concept was, and she was all in right away,” Bazzell said. The man must have a gift for persuasion because Stewart not only bought in but became a co-founder.
From Glass of Wine to Digital Courts
Let’s be honest: If someone pitched you a basketball league featuring a mix of 3-on-3, one-on-one battles, and queen-of-the-court vibes, you’d probably raise an eyebrow. But Bazzell? He turned skepticism into excitement. Breanna Stewart described the league as “an all-digital basketball court where you hold bragging rights,” in a July 2023 ESPN interview. Translation? This isn’t your grandma’s pickup game.
Behind the scenes, Bazzell has been grinding harder than a rookie in training camp. From securing financing to locking in media distribution deals, his hustle has been as relentless as a full-court press. And let’s not forget the last-minute prep. Whether it’s tweaking facilities or drumming up hype on social media, Bazzell’s fingerprints are everywhere.
“Stewie, Don’t Post That!”
But for all his accomplishments, Bazzell does have one kryptonite: keeping secrets. Right before Christmas, Breanna Stewart teased something on Twitter, leaving fans drooling for more. Naturally, Bazzell had to step in.
“We told Stewie she can’t post pictures yet, so don’t be upset with her,” he tweeted, sounding more like a dad scolding his kid than a league president. The suspense, however, seems to be working. Fans are practically clawing at the gates, waiting for Unrivaled’s debut.
What’s Next for Unrivaled?
With promotional clips flooding social media and jersey reveals already sparking conversations, Unrivaled is shaping up to be basketball’s next big thing. And it’s all thanks to the trifecta of Collier, Stewart, and—of course—Bazzell.
As hoops fans eagerly await the league’s launch, one thing is crystal clear: this isn’t just another basketball league. It’s a game-changing concept, born from a late-night brainstorm over wine and brought to life by some of the sharpest minds in the sport.
So, when Unrivaled tips off next week, remember to raise your glass (of wine, obviously) to Alex Bazzell—the man who proved that even basketball dreams can start over a boozy Christmas chat. Cheers to that!
