A brand new skilled girls’s basketball league is coming to the USA, and it may change every part for the sport’s prime athletes. The Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart — former teammates the College of Connecticut and two of the WNBA’s greatest stars — are launching Unequalled, a three-on-three basketball league to happen in Miami throughout the WNBA offseason. The league will likely be player-owned and boast a minimal wage of $100,000, and can give gamers a chance to remain within the U.S. throughout the offseason fairly than play abroad.
Particulars surrounding Unequalled have been revealed in rolling trend, and this week, Collier took to Twitter to reply followers’ questions and share extra details about how every part will work. Right here’s what we discovered.
Which WNBA stars are enjoying in Unequalled?
Unequalled will embrace thirty of the largest WNBA stars, and can notably be player-owned. Over the previous few months, the league’s official Twitter account has been teasing details about contributors and revealing names one after the other in an effort to extend the excitement across the league.
Ten contributors — all WNBA All Stars — already been introduced: Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Arike Ogunbowale (Wings), Chelsea Grey (Aces), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Rhyne Howard (Dream), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Jackie Younger (Aces), and Angel Reese (Sky). Moreover, College of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers is slated to affix in 2025.
Angel Reese’s taking part may show notably useful for drawing consideration to the league given her monumental following — Reese’s 3.8 million Instagram followers make her probably the most adopted athlete in girls’s basketball.
Angel is ✨a enterprise girl✨& is aware of the ability of possession. That is the one funding as basketball gamers we are able to management. Angel is a part of this group that’s bringing in a ton of viewership, she ought to have long run upside within the progress of basketball! Plus we’re in Miami… https://t.co/0vSii4tF7Q
— napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
“Angel is a enterprise girl AND is aware of the ability of possession,” Collier mentioned, by way of X. “That is the one funding as basketball gamers we are able to management.”
Collier additionally revealed 4 rookies (and counting) are set to play, although solely Reese has been formally introduced thus far. Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Kate Martin, Rickea Jackson, and different prime WNBA rookies is also within the combine.
When and the place will video games be performed?
Unequalled will host two video games in a row, three nights every week. Collier mentioned that the league is within the ultimate phases of media negotiations, however that “it will likely be very straightforward for followers to seek out us”, presumably on tv or on a streaming platform.
The league will likely be based mostly in Miami, however will go on tour to a number of cities all through the season.
Collier additionally mentioned the sport size will likely be “regular basketball” fairly than the Olympics’ 10-minute quarters. “That appears hectic and tiring,” she wrote.
Nah, that appears hectic and tiring
Ours is gonna really feel like regular basketball simply with extra spacing. 4 quarters, 2 subs on every group, and coaches. https://t.co/PnSyQG65FO— napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
How will Unequalled rosters be assembled?
Unequalled will embrace six groups, with 5 gamers on every group. A variety committee will cut up groups by place and ability, and and there will likely be participant motion between groups much like the WNBA, per Collier.
It doesn’t sound just like the league’s co-founders will likely be paired up.
“Sadly Sunday would be the final time me and Stewie play collectively till Nationwide group begins again up once more,” Collier wrote.
Every group can have a head coach, an assistant, and a group supervisor. Some coaches will likely be from the WNBA, whereas others received’t.
“We’ll have a superb assortment of skilled coaches,” Napheesa Collier wrote.
The place can folks purchase tickets?
Tickets will likely be introduced within the fall on the official web site, www.unequalled.basketball. There may even be jerseys for buy, Collier assured followers.
What’s the cope with the one-on-one match?
Along with the three-on-three element, gamers may even compete in a single-elimination on-on-one match, with the winner receiving a minimal of $250,000.
