New women's pro basketball league Unrivaled secures funding for high-energy 3-on-3 style gameplay

From CNBC: 2024-05-30 08:30:01

A new women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier of the WNBA, has secured seed funding ahead of its January launch. The league aims to provide athletes with equity and contract opportunities, offering the highest average salary in women’s pro sports history. Investors include prominent media executives and athletes such as Carmelo Anthony.

Unrivaled’s season will run from January to March, featuring 30 top women’s basketball players in a 3-on-3, full-court style of play. The league plans to build a facility in Miami specifically for its games, with a shortened court size to facilitate high-energy gameplay. The league aims to provide athletes with a new option to play basketball in the U.S. offseason and boost salaries for pro women basketball players.

Investors in Unrivaled comprise a diverse group of prominent figures in sports and media, including NBA all-star Steve Nash, LGPA champion Michelle Wie West, and Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman, among others. Media executives John Skipper and David Levy will handle media rights for the league, aiming to secure lucrative deals to drive interest and player salaries. The league also plans to pursue sponsorship opportunities with the help of Horizon Sports & Experiences.



Read more at CNBC: New women’s pro basketball league Unrivaled nets star investors