WNBA superstar Brittney Griner has officially joined the roster of Unrivaled Basketball, the groundbreaking 3-on-3 offseason league founded by fellow WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
Griner becomes the 24th player to sign on, further solidifying Unrivaled as a premier destination for women’s basketball talent.
Set to debut in January 2025, the league already boasts an impressive lineup of players, including Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, and Chelsea Gray.
Rising UConn star Paige Bueckers also joined the league earlier this year through an NIL deal.
Griner, who previously hinted at her interest, made headlines in 2023 with her lighthearted comments about retiring from overseas play.
“Well, I’m never going overseas again, so I think I’m free,” she quipped. “Whether I play in it or not, I’m definitely going to be around and watching… So I’m gonna have to go ahead and hop on — not one-on-one though, I don’t know about that one.”
A League With Star Power and Big Rewards
Unrivaled Basketball will feature 30 elite players, playing games in Miami during the WNBA offseason.
With minimum salaries of $100,000 per player, the league is set to offer some of the highest average pay in U.S. professional women’s team sports, with a total payout of approximately $3 million.
The league’s investor roster is just as impressive, featuring big names like soccer legends Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, retired NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash, LPGA icon Michelle Wie West, UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, and actor Ashton Kutcher.
Addressing Challenges in Women’s Basketball
Unrivaled Basketball’s timing avoids conflicts with WNBA training camps, a sore spot for many players due to the WNBA’s new “prioritization clause.”
This clause, implemented as part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, requires players to report to training camp on time or risk suspension for the entire season.
Stewart and Collier announced Unrivaled ahead of the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game as a way to provide players with lucrative opportunities while staying stateside.
Though the league’s debut was initially planned for January 2024, its official launch in 2025 is highly anticipated.
Redefining the Offseason
Unrivaled is poised to revolutionize women’s basketball, offering players the chance to showcase their skills, earn substantial pay, and stay closer to home.
With Griner’s addition and a roster stacked with talent, the league is set to make waves in the sports world and beyond.
