Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart Launch ‘Unrivaled’ Offseason League for WNBA Players

3 min read

In a bid to provide top-tier WNBA players with an alternative to playing overseas during the offseason, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier have embarked on a visionary endeavor. Their brainchild, ‘Unrivaled,’ is set to revolutionize the landscape of women’s basketball, offering players an exciting opportunity to stay closer to home while continuing to showcase their skills.

Amidst the backdrop of the WNBA’s new prioritization rules, which mandate players to return from international commitments at the onset of WNBA training camps, ‘Unrivaled’ emerges as a beacon of choice and empowerment for these talented athletes. The league is designed to run from January through March and will feature 30 of the top professional women’s basketball players, organized into six teams. The unique format will see players engage in thrilling 3-on-3 and one-on-one matchups, all set against the vibrant backdrop of a soundstage in Miami.

The core objective of ‘Unrivaled’ is to secure private funding and sponsorships to ensure that players receive compensation commensurate with their WNBA earnings. By doing so, this groundbreaking league aims to offset the need for players to seek lucrative contracts overseas, a necessity driven by the stringent prioritization rules. Breanna Stewart succinctly articulated the essence of ‘Unrivaled,’ stating, “It’s the ability for players to stay home, to be in a market like Miami where we can just be the buzz and create that with the best WNBA players.”

The WNBA’s supermax salary for the 2023 season stands at $234,936, a figure that underscores the significance of player earnings in the league. It is noteworthy that Breanna Stewart, despite her stature as one of the league’s premier talents, willingly accepted a contract considerably less than the maximum salary to join the New York Liberty, demonstrating her commitment to the ‘Unrivaled’ initiative.

The impetus behind ‘Unrivaled’ can be traced back to the WNBPA’s collective bargaining agreement in 2020, which introduced the controversial prioritization rules. These rules, while intended to bolster the WNBA, have faced criticism for curbing player autonomy and limiting their options. Napheesa Collier emphasized the importance of choice, particularly for female athletes, stating, “We can’t keep fighting [the WNBA’s prioritization rule]. It is a rule that takes away our choices, which should never be a thing, especially as women, but it is still a rule.”

‘Unrivaled’ represents an unprecedented opportunity for fans to witness the WNBA’s elite talents face off in a unique and dynamic setting. The league’s emphasis on 3-on-3 and one-on-one play promises to showcase the individual brilliance of players while fostering a deeper sense of community and competition. The choice of Miami as the league’s backdrop adds an element of glamour and excitement, further elevating the league’s profile.

As the ‘Unrivaled’ league prepares to make its debut, the basketball world eagerly awaits the impact it will have on the WNBA and the broader landscape of women’s sports. With Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart at the helm, this initiative embodies the resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit of female athletes who are determined to shape their destinies and provide future generations of women with more choices and opportunities.

In conclusion, ‘Unrivaled’ represents a remarkable milestone in the evolution of women’s basketball, offering top WNBA players an exciting alternative to overseas commitments during the offseason. This league, spearheaded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is poised to redefine the way we perceive women’s sports and empower female athletes to make choices that align with their aspirations and ambitions. As the inaugural season approaches, ‘Unrivaled’ promises to captivate basketball enthusiasts worldwide and inspire a new era of possibilities for women in sports.

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