‘Just what we need.’ How Unrivaled created a blueprint for women’s basketball
Teresa Weatherspoon has seen a lot of basketball.
Her resume speaks for itself: NCAA Champion; five-time WNBA All-Star; six-time Italian League All-Star.
So when Unrivaled reached out to her about a potential coaching opportunity, the hoops legend jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s basketball,” said Weatherspoon who will coach the Vinyl Basketball Club. “You have 36 of the elites playing, so of course you want to be part of that. You want to be part of growing the game and elevating the game. That’s what it’s all about.”
As the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league prepares to tip-off Friday in Miami, its mission to not only grow the game of women’s basketball but also provide a domestic alternative for WNBA players remains paramount. Its roster, which includes everyone from Angel Reese to Sabrina Ionescu to Britteny Griner, attests to that. But even more important is that Unrivaled has provided a blueprint for leagues — from the WNBA to the world — on just how players should be treated.
“It’s been really nice – the apartment, the housing, the food, the recovery, the training staff – everything is top tier from top to bottom,” said Natasha Cloud of the Phantom Basketball Club. “From being a part of league like [Athletes United] to seeing how far [Unrivaled is] already in like logistics and as a league as a whole, we’re just miles ahead.”
Added Cloud: “It’s just an exciting time for women basketball in general with just the trajectory that we’re on. This is another elite level to keep us home stateside and be adequately paid to do so.”
From amenities ranging from childcare services to better trainers, it’s clear that the Unrivaled has raised the standard, according to Satou Sabally of the Phantom BC.
“This shows just what we need as athletes,” Sabally said, explaining that one of the WNBA’s problems is “that we do cater to lower teams” with “lower resources.” “We should elevate everyone together and make them fulfill a higher standard and make them give us resources because it’s not okay that we cold tub with college athletes. It’s not okay that we share our locker room with random people.”
The league’s start comes just months after WNBA players opted out of their collective bargaining agreement, citing a need to claim “our rightful share of the business we’ve built” and improved working conditions, according to Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike. As a league co-founded by WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled will take a player-first approach. Keep in mind: many players hoop overseas just to supplement their income after the WNBA season.
“It gives us financial resources and obviously a space to get better but overall, I would say it is just making it more global, more accessible to other people,” Sabally said. “All of our games being streamed on TNT — that’s just such a blessing. A beauty brand like Sephora supporting us and so many people behind the scenes that just like support our careers. That means a lot, especially as a woman, because that’s not the case in our world.”
As Sabally mentioned, the financial aspect of Unrivaled is unmatched. With funders ranging from NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley to U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, the league has a total salary pool of $8 million, according to SB Nation. That would put the average salary at roughly $222,222 considering the league consists of 36 players. For comparison, the top WNBA salary maxed out around $242,000 in 2024; the average player, however, made about $119,500, according to ESPN. Unrivaled players even received an ownership stake in the league.
“We’re definitely going kind of use this as a learning experience and also leverage it a little bit,” Stewart said. “But this isn’t Unrivaled vs. the W. We want to work together to continue to uplift.”
Stewart went on to mention the WNBPA’s opt out of the CBA due top the “new TV deal coming through the W,” and while she doubled down on this not being a rivalry between the two leagues — “I was trying to make women’s basketball continue to be relevant in the offseason from a professional standpoint,” she said — the six-time All-Star was solely just interested in “knowing what works.”
“The players, they want to make things better,” the Mist Basketball Club star said, later adding that “whether we come to a place where we’re going to have equity in the WNBA or not, like we still want it to grow for our generation and the ones after.”
There are six teams with six players each. The season will conclude with the playoffs, culminating with the final on March 16.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
