Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League Expands with Two New Teams and 18 Roster Spots
The women’s basketball scene is shifting fast, especially with Unrivaled’s 3×3 league growing bigger. They’re now offering the highest salaries in American women’s team sports, which is wild when you think about it.
For its second season, starting January 2026, Unrivaled will add two new teams and open up 18 more roster spots. This move shows just how much people are paying attention to women’s sports—and how much money is starting to flow into it.
Unrivaled’s Second Season: New Teams and Expanded Opportunities
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Things are getting interesting with the arrival of Hive Basketball Club and Breeze Basketball Club. Each team will have six players, so the league’s roster is about to get a lot bigger.
They’re also creating a development pool with six players. These folks won’t have a permanent team at first, but they’ll be ready to jump in if someone gets hurt.
Why the Expansion Came So Soon
At first, Unrivaled planned to expand after its third season. But president Alex Bazzell said the league is way ahead of schedule, so they decided to go for it now.
Bazzell put it simply: “We want to be a home for as many great players as possible without diluting the product.” They’re trying to keep the level of play high, but also let more talent in. Makes sense.
Broadcasting and Game Scheduling Enhancements
The league’s also making some changes to how and when games are shown. Before, games mostly aired on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays.
Now, they’re adding another game night. No more back-to-back games, which is a big deal for player recovery—especially with the WNBA’s 44-game season overlapping Unrivaled’s schedule.
Player Contracts and New Signings
Most players from Unrivaled’s first season are sticking around. Thirty have signed two-year deals through 2027, and fifteen are locked in for three years.
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers just signed a three-year contract too. There’s no talk with Caitlin Clark right now, but Bazzell said the league is open to top players. “Everyone knows that we want the best players. Everyone knows that if they’re interested, we always have spots,” he said.
Financial Growth and Investor Confidence
Unrivaled just brought in new investors, bumping its valuation to $340 million. That’s a tenfold jump since May 2024, which is pretty impressive.
Bazzell didn’t say exactly how much of the league they sold, but this kind of growth shows investors believe in what Unrivaled’s building.
Tour Stops and Venue Changes
Last season, every game happened outside of Miami. This time, Unrivaled plans to take games on the road.
They’ll announce a tour stop soon, hoping to reach more fans and shake things up. Bazzell said, “Our job is to make sure that these teams are spread out fairly, but we don’t lose the core identities of some of these fan bases that have built up.”
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Women’s Basketball
Unrivaled’s expansion really shows how much interest and investment women’s basketball is getting these days. New teams are joining in, and the broadcasting schedules keep getting better.
There’s also a lot more financial backing now. The league looks set for a strong second season, and honestly, it’s starting to raise the bar for professional women’s sports.
Want more details? You can check out the full article on the New York Times.