The basketball universe is buzzing louder than a courtside commentator after a buzzer-beater! Unrivaled, the newest 3×3 women’s basketball league, is days away from its inaugural tip-off, and it promises to deliver a whole new flavor of hoops drama. The brainchild of Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is here to make the offseason anything but off.
But wait—before the WNBA faithful clutch their pearls and start panicking about a LIV Golf-PGA-style rivalry, let’s pump the brakes. According to Alex Bazzell, Unrivaled’s president and (bonus trivia) Collier’s husband, this league isn’t here to play spoiler. Nope, it’s here to play complement.
“It’s not meant to be a LIV Golf, PGA situation by any stretch,” Bazzell assured in a statement that had metaphorical golf balls flying off Twitter. “The WNBA has a short season, and there are seven months of offseason. We’re filling that gap. The WNBA’s growth is our growth. We’re all in this together.”
Essentially, Bazzell is saying, “Relax, basketball purists. We’re the cool new kid on the block, not the neighborhood bully.”
Unrivaled: The Hot New Party in the Basketball Block
The WNBA just wrapped its most successful season ever, and women’s basketball has reached unprecedented popularity. In comes Unrivaled, looking to ride that wave. With marquee names like Collier, Stewart, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Courtney Vandersloot suiting up, this league isn’t shy about bringing the star power.
And what better way to launch than with a blockbuster matchup? Collier’s Lunar Owls Basketball Club (yes, the team names are giving indie band vibes, and we love it) will face Stewart’s Mist Basketball Club in the inaugural game. If this lineup were a movie trailer, the tagline would be, “Brace yourself for a star-studded basketball showdown you didn’t know you needed.”
But here’s the twist: Cameron Brink, one of the league’s young stars, will miss the entire season after a devastating ACL tear in her rookie WNBA campaign. That’s like getting a shiny new toy and being told you can’t play with it yet. Ouch.
What’s the Real Deal with Unrivaled?
Some skeptics have raised eyebrows, claiming this league could steal the WNBA’s thunder. But Bazzell clapped back like a coach at halftime.
“We don’t want to be a thorn in the WNBA’s side,” he explained. “We’re here to help. The WNBA has been growing rapidly, and without that growth, we wouldn’t even exist. We’re all about lifting women’s basketball to new heights.”
Translation: Unrivaled isn’t trying to poach the WNBA’s fans—it’s giving them more basketball to obsess over. Think of it as the dessert after the WNBA’s main course. And who doesn’t want dessert?
The Double-Header Delight
Following the Lunar Owls-Mist showdown, the Rose Basketball Club and Vinyl Basketball Club will square off in the second game of opening night. If Unrivaled’s goal is to keep fans glued to their screens, they’re off to a solid start. Streaming for the games will be available on MAX, ensuring no one misses a dunk, block, or Courtney Williams’ inevitable highlight reel.
Final Thoughts: The Court Is Open for More Hoops Love
Unrivaled isn’t here to compete with the WNBA; it’s here to make the offseason less “off” and more “on.” With its unique 3×3 format and a roster stacked with WNBA stars, it’s poised to keep women’s basketball in the spotlight year-round.
So, as the inaugural tip-off approaches, basketball fans everywhere have one question: “Where do I sign up to watch?”
Because when the Lunar Owls and Mist Basketball Club hit the court on January 17 in Miami, it’s not just a game—it’s the beginning of a new era in hoops. Grab your popcorn, folks. This show’s about to start, and it’s going to be a slam dunk.