Alex Buzzell envisions Unrivaled, a professional 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, as it enters its second season starting Monday, Jan. 5, in Miami, Florida. Buzzell, President of Unrivaled, describes the league as aiming to be the Champions League equivalent for women’s basketball, clarifying that it does not compete with the WNBA but seeks to carve out its own market space.
Though drawing a comparison to one of the world’s most popular soccer leagues isn’t exact, Unrivaled boasts many top-tier women basketball players, including former WNBA MVPs like Brianna Stewart, Olympians such as Kelsey Plum, past collegiate champions like Aliyah Boston, and up-and-coming stars like Dominic Malonga. The league is financially supported, with games airing on TNT Sports and platforms like TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, and sponsored by major brands including Sephora, Maker’s Mark, Samsung, and Cheez-It.
Buzzell remains optimistic about the league’s future, viewing this as the early stage of women’s basketball’s growth. He emphasized that once people objectively evaluate women’s sports through data, the positive trajectory is apparent. Buzzell, who is married to co-founder Nafeesa Collier, believes the league is only at the beginning of a promising journey.
Paige Bueckers, a former UConn national champion and the current WNBA Rookie of the Year with the Dallas Wings, joins the league this season. Buzzell praised Bueckers for her maturity and superstar status, highlighting her role in elevating the competition. Bueckers, experienced in 3-on-3 play internationally, is set to team up with players like Cameron Brink, Rikea Jackson, Kate Martin, Aari McDonald, and Malonga.
The second season arrives amid ongoing tensions in women’s pro basketball, particularly the WNBA’s negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Stewart and Collier, vice presidents of the WNBA Players Association, also co-founded Unrivaled, which offers players higher salaries and equity stakes than the WNBA — key issues under negotiation in the CBA talks.
When questioned about potential WNBA exclusivity rules that might restrict players from participating in other leagues, Buzzell expressed doubt that such restrictions are imminent and reaffirmed Unrivaled’s commitment to attracting top talent by providing excellent opportunities. He also hinted at openness to collaboration with the WNBA down the road.
A new feature this season is a six-player development pool designed to ease roster challenges from injuries. Players like Haley Van Lith, Asiaha James, Haley Jones, Emily Engstler, Leticia Amihere, and Makayla Timpson will practice on-site in Miami and be available to teams through a waiver system if needed, reducing pressure on injured players.
Fan Take: For WNBA fans, Unrivaled presents an exciting supplementary platform showcasing elite talent in a fast-paced 3-on-3 format while pushing for better player compensation and conditions. Its growth amid the WNBA’s CBA talks signals a broader shift toward elevating women’s basketball as a whole, promising more opportunities and visibility for the sport.
