Unrivaled is finally here!
The Unrivaled League is set to debut Friday, January 17 on TNT.
This past WNBA season was gratifying because the New York Liberty won the Championship. It was the first New York basketball championship since the New York Knicks won in 1973! The Championship series was a hard-fought battle between the Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. Yeah, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier were duking it out for the Championship. Stewart walked away the champion, and Collier and the Lynx were unhappy losers.
These two women walked away from the battle and came together to begin the inaugural season of the Unrivaled League they had created.
What is Unrivaled?
Unrivaled is a three v three league comprised of some of the best in the WNBA. Six teams were formed by a selection committee made up of Stewart, Collier, and the coaches. The coaches were involved in making sure the teams would be competitive.
The players were divided by their skill levels and positions and then divided into six teams.
The need…
The WNBA regular season lasts a little over six months. And that includes playoffs and the Championship. After that time, players who make nowhere near what an NBA player makes have had to bolster their income by playing overseas. CBA restrictions do not encumber women’s basketball overseas; those players make more money. But that’s also more time away from their loved ones.
The Unrivaled League allows players to continue playing in the States until the WNBA season begins. It also provides a six-figure income and an equity stake.
The teams…
The six teams of Unrivaled,
Lunar Owls - Coach DJ Sackmann
Napheesa Collier (Lynx)
Courtney Williams (Lynx)
Allisha Gray (Dream)
Shakira Austin (Mystics)
Cameron Brinks (Sparks)
Mist - Coach Phil Handy
Breanna Stewart (Liberty)
DiJonai Carrington (Sun)
Courtney Vandersloot (Liberty)
Jewel Lloyd (Storm)
Aaliyah Edwards (Mystics)
Rickea Jackson (Sparks)
Phantom - Coach Adam Harrington
Satou Sabally (Wings)
Marisa Mabrey (Sun)
Brittney Griner (Mercury)
Natasha Cloud (Mercury)
Katie Lou Samuelson (Fever)
Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty)
Rose - Nola Henry
Angel Reese (Sky)
Chelsea Gray (Aces)
Brittney Sykes (Mystics)
Kahleah Cooper (Mercury)
Azura Stevens (Sparks)
Lexie Hall (Fever)
Vinyl - Coach - Teresa Weatherspoon
Arike Ogunbowale (Wings)
Rae Burrell (Dream)
Rhyne Howard (Dream)
Aaliyah Boston (Fever)
Jordan Canada (Dream)
Dearica Hamby (Sparks)
Laces - Coach Andrew Wade
Jackie Young (Aces)
Tiffany Hayes (Aces)
Kayla McBride (Lynx)
Alyssa Thomas (Sun)
Kate Martin (GSV)*
Stephanie Dolson (Mystics)
*GSV - Golden State Valkyries
Money, money, money…money!
Like the old O’Jays song, Unrivaled League is boasting of coffers overflowing with at least $35 million before the first game is even played. Some of the most influential sports figures today have happily invested in this wonderful venture. The latest and probably most notable investment came from tennis phenom Coco Gauff.
After helping the US team win the United Cup, she didn’t go to Disneyland, she went to the Unrivaled League and promptly made an investment. And she’s not alone. Here’s a list of some of the generous investors to date.
Carmelo Anthony, 10x NBA All-Star
Steve Nash, 2x NBA MVP
Ashton Kutcher, actor
Alex Morgan, Former USWNT captain
Megan Rapinoe, Former USWNT and OL Reign winger and activist
Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA Chaampion and 8x All Star
Linda Henry, Co-Owner, and CEO of the Boston Globe Media
John Skipper, former ESPN President
Warner Bros. Discovery, Exclusive media rights partner
Dawn Staley, Head coach of South Carolina Women’s basketball
Geno Auriemma, Head coach of UConn Women’s basketball
Michael Phelps, Olympic champion and 23x gold medalist
and JuJu Watkins, Sophomore guard at USC
UConn star Paige Bueckers will be using her platform to advocate for the League and to help women not have to play overseas.
“Just to be a part of something amazing like that, trying to get more eyes and use my platform to get people to watch, to tune in and continue to grow the game that way. I think it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for women’s basketball to continue to grow.”
It’s time, ladies…
Unrivaled games are set to begin January 17 and run through March 17. The women have already begun to arrive and have begun practicing with their teams. The Unrivaled games will be air on TNT.
No, it will not be Shaq, Ernie, Kenny and Charles. Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok will be the analysts with Brendan Glasheen as the play by play announcer.
Also, there will be an in-season tournament…Napheesha, what’s up with that?
Miss Tee…
Well I don’t know about you guys, but I am excited! More women’s basketball means more great basketball without all the whining and crying that’s associated with the…umm, other league.
I will be following the Unrivaled League very closely for Miss Tee on Women Sports. It is the inspiration for this blog. The WNBA season will be a big favorite also, the New York Liberty are the champions, after all and Miss Ellie is the World’s greatest mascot! We will also be covering the new expansion team the Golden State Valkyries and how they came about.
I would also like to add a feature on the fabulous women in sports that were forgotten and were never heard of, or I should say I never knew them.
As I write I am watching the Australian Open for exciting women’s tennis. Number 3 ranked Coco Gauff and the entire American women’s team along with others such as Swiatek, and Sabalenka will be featured.
The four Grand Slam tournaments, including the current Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open will be covered. Other tours I will be giving you more of a Youtube experience (I can’t be everywhere!)
I am asking for and accepting articles from women involved in and have love for women’s sports. So if you’re one of those women, please contact me. There are a slew of areas of women’s sports, from women playing baseball and even football.
So…I hope you will join me in watching the Unrivaled League. And I hope reading and becoming a subscriber to Miss Tee On Women’s Sports also.
Until next time…