Why ‘Unrivaled’ Will Be More Successful Than You Think

This January, the new years kicks off with a bang with the launch of Unrivaled. It’s a three on three professional women’s basketball league. It has been heavily invested in by current and former sports stars like Michael Phelps and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Initially, I started to think about the parallels between this league and Ice Cube’s Big 3. That’s especially in the case where he bid to bring Caitlin Clark in after her college career, citing that he could pay her more than the WNBA would. But as I looked at the obvious parallel of three on three basketball, I had to consider what set Unrivaled apart from the Big 3.

One of the biggest hurdles that Unrivaled won’t have to deal with is the league’s visibility. There will be Unrivaled games played on TNT for example. You have to be able to find the product easily to support it. In the Big 3’s initial run, you could easily access it on CBS. That’s no longer the case, as the league’s coverage is now solely seen on the Big 3’s website. It has in the last few years, become much more of a niche product. That’s after launching and promoting it as a league that you’d be able to watch Allen Iverson ball again. The amount of notable NBA alumni has dwindled so much so that a casual fan may not check it out. That’s where Unrivaled doesn’t have an issue.

One of the biggest appeals of Unrivaled is the fact that this league will include active WNBA players and only WNBA players. The Big 3 features former NBA players, who most of which were not elite talents. It also includes players who have played internationally, but not at the NBA level. In essence, the league indirectly functions as a farm system for NBA talent. From that, there has been some success stories, like a short career resurgence for Joe Johnson. But in Unrivaled, you’ll see WNBA players in their prime, still competing at a prime level.

With that level of competition, this league will also help in preparing the women for their upcoming season. The beauty of Unrivaled is that it also creates a revenue stream for these players where they may not have to play overseas during their off-seasons anymore. It’s truly a revolutionary concept. With up the uptick in energy surrounding the players of the WNBA, a solid financial backing and a fresh collection of talent, I see this league really taking off.

I know the initial feeling to another sports league launching could feel cumbersome. Something else to watch? Was it just me? But once I could make a distinction with the void I believe this league will fill, I was sold. I can’t wait to look forward to new rivalries being formed, and some being quelled because rivals could become teammates. Winter women’s basketball has a fly ring to it, blame alliteration. But I for sure am all in on Unrivaled.