The Unrivaled Basketball League, co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to kick off its inaugural season in Miami with a luxurious facility and high salaries. The league has already made a significant impact on the women’s professional basketball ecosystem.
Players praise the league for its top-notch facilities, including an elevated stage, practice court, fully outfitted weight room, recovery room with saunas and hot and cold tubs, and intimate seating for 850 fans. Each team has its own locker room, and players will also have access to a massage therapist and chef.
The league’s investment in the player experience is evident, with a focus on skill development and personal growth. Players will also receive high salaries, with an average salary of $222,222, surpassing the WNBA average salary by more than 85%.
Unrivaled officials say the league offers the highest average salary for women’s professional team sports, but declined to share specifics on the salary range. The league has already attracted high-profile investors, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Phelps.
“I think if you do those things, it consumes you and we don’t have time for that,” said Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell. “We’re not going to sit here and worry about what if it fails because I believe if you focus on success, it will happen.”
The league’s new facility is seen as a major selling point, with players praising the player experience and facilities. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire after 2025 may also be influenced by Unrivaled’s investment in the player experience and high salaries.
“We’ve already left the impact,” Bazzell said. “We’ve already reached a level of success that probably no one thought we could do… Now, where do we take that success? Who knows.”
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/sports/unrivaleds-luxury-touches-raising-the-bar-for-womens-pro-sports