Unmatched 3-on-3 girls’s basketball league, defined: Caitlin Clark’s standing, rosters, schedule, compensation

For a lot of the WNBA’s historical past, its finest gamers have left dwelling as quickly because the season ended to go play abroad, usually for more cash. Solely in recent times, with the arrival of upper salaries and higher endorsement offers, has that pattern began to vary. 

Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are attempting to completely alter the ladies’s skilled basketball panorama with their new league, Unrivaled, which ideas off in January 2025 and seeks to supply an alternate supply of competitors and earnings for WNBA gamers through the offseason. 

“For a very long time, going abroad was the one possibility that individuals had of their offseason, and so that is type of altering the narrative round that and giving another choice,” Collier said earlier this year. “Abroad is a good possibility for some gamers, but it surely should not be the one factor you are able to do to become profitable and play basketball and get higher.”

Forward of what ought to be an enchanting winter, here is every thing you might want to find out about Unmatched. 

Who’s enjoying?

That’s maybe an important query. Initially, Unmatched acknowledged that it could characteristic “30 of the highest skilled gamers in girls’s basketball.” Nonetheless, Collier announced on Oct. 31 that the league could be expanded to 36 gamers as a result of they “outperformed our monetary projections.” 

The total participant pool was crammed on Dec. 23 when New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu joined because the thirty sixth participant. Unmatched president Alex Bazzell, who’s married to Collier, told Sportico that the league ultimately hopes to develop to eight groups and 48 gamers within the coming years. 

Stewart and Collier are main the cost, after all, together with different stars corresponding to Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. To date, there are 4 members of the superb 2024 rookie class within the combine: Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson and Aaliyah Edwards. Brink, who continues to be recovering from a torn ACL, has signed a two-year cope with Unmatched and won’t play within the 2025 season. 

Despite the league’s best efforts, Caitlin Clark shouldn’t be in that group. She has decided not to participate. Moreover, Kelsey Plum has modified her thoughts on enjoying. The Aces star was within the preliminary participant pool, however announced on Nov. 27 that she has backed out “as a way to take some extra time for myself this offseason.” 

Listed here are the gamers confirmed for the primary season of Unmatched.

There are six groups with six gamers every, and the rosters had been be chosen by a variety committee that “splits the groups by place & talent,” Collier wrote on social media. The rosters were announced through a YouTube video on Nov. 20. 

 Laces BC

• Stefanie Dolson
• Tiffany Hayes
• Kate Martin
• Kayla McBride
• Alyssa Thomas
• Jackie Younger
• Head coach: Andrew Wade

Lunar Owls BC

• Shakira Austin
• Cameron Brink
• Napheesa Collier
• Skylar Diggins-Smith
• Allisha Grey
• Courtney Williams
• Head coach: DJ Sackmann

Mist BC

• DiJonai Carrington
• Aaliay Edwards
• Rickea Jackson
• Jewell Loyd
• Breanna Stewart
• Courtney Vandersloot
• Head coach: Phil Helpful

Phantom BC

• Natasha Cloud
• Brittney Griner
• Sabrina Ionescu
• Marina Mabrey
• Satou Sabally
• Katie Lou Samuelson
• Head coach: Adam Harrington

Rose BC

• Kahleah Copper
• Chelsea Grey
• Lexie Hull
• Angel Reese
• Azura Stevens
• Brittney Sykes
• Head coach: Nola Henry

Vinyl BC

• Aliyah Boston
• Rae Burrell
• Jordin Canada
• Dearica Hamby
• Rhyne Howard
• Arike Ogunbowale
• Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

When does the season begin?

The inaugural season will tip off on Jan. 17, and can run for eight weeks. Video games might be performed on Monday, Friday and Saturday nights. 

TNT Sports activities has acquired the published rights, and can present Monday and Friday video games on TNT and Saturday video games on truTV. All video games might be obtainable for streaming on Max. 

The full schedule was released in November. 

What is going to the video games appear to be?

One of many many causes that Unmatched is exclusive is that the video games might be 3-on-3, but performed on a barely shorter fullcourt. The Unmatched flooring, which might be 70 toes lengthy is about three-fourths the size of the WNBA’s 94-foot lengthy court docket. The enjoying floor’s 50-foot width will stay the identical. Moreover, they may play 4, seven-minute quarters as an alternative of the 10-minute quarters utilized by the WNBA.

A full algorithm relating to shot clock size, quantity of fouls allowed, and so forth. has not but been launched, although Collier said on social media that it’ll appear to be “regular basketball with extra spacing.” 

What’s the season format?

The season will final for 9 weeks, together with the playoffs. 

There might be two video games on every sport night time, and the six groups will play one another in a round-robin format. The highest-four groups within the standings will advance to the playoffs, which might be single-elimination. 

Unmatched is constructing its personal facility in Miami, which would be the league’s dwelling base this season. 

How a lot will gamers be paid?

Precise salaries won’t be disclosed, however every participant will make a minimal of six figures and likewise obtain fairness within the league. In an interview with SB Nation in December, Bazzell stated that Unrivaled had a salary pool of over $8 million. That might put the typical wage at $222,222. 

One of many major causes that Stewart and Collier created Unmatched was to provide gamers an opportunity to earn important cash, not simply now, however for years to return. 

“Ladies’s sports activities is on such an increase, and it looks like everyone seems to be benefiting from that besides the ladies within the sport, and clearly that is one thing we’re making an attempt to vary after which additionally create generational wealth for these girls,” Collier instructed “We Must Discuss” final yr. “From the start, [Stewart] and I actually got down to create a league that was based on that precept that gamers deserve compensation and possession that mirror their worth.”

Will there be coaches?

Sure, every staff may have a head coach, one assistant coach and a staff supervisor. Unmatched introduced the top coaches on Nov. 15. Notable names embody former Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon and former Los Angeles Lakers assistant Phil Helpful. 

Here is the complete listing:

• Phil Helpful (Mist BC)
• Adam Harrington (Phantom BC)
• Nola Henry (Rose BC)
• DJ Sackmann (Lunar Owls BC)
• Andrew Wade (Laces BC)
• Teresa Weatherspoon (Vinyl BC)

What concerning the 1-on-1 match?

One other distinctive side of Unmatched is that it’ll characteristic 1-on-1 match in the course of the season to find out the very best 1-on-1 participant in world. The one-elimination occasion will happen in February and the winner will obtain a $250,000 prize. 

Additional particulars relating to the foundations and bracket might be launched at a later date.