Even Without Caitlin Clark, Unrivaled Basketball League Gearing Up For Highly Anticipated Inaugural Season

Caitlin Clark reportedly turned down an offer to appear in Unrivaled last week, a new three-on-three women’s basketball league. Even without Clark, however, founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier have managed to prepare the star-studded league for a promising debut in January.

Unrivaled has already announced its roster of 34 players, leaving two “Wild Card” spots unfilled. The league will feature six teams of six players and host games in Miami for nine weeks from January to March.

Because of the addition of the Wild Card spots, as well as Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston’s commitment to play, some speculated that Clark might be swayed into competing. After completing an extremely busy 2024 slate, in which she competed in her final NCAA Tournament before leading the Fever to the WNBA Playoffs, it seems that Clark is taking time to rest before next season. Unrivaled officials said that they would leave an open invitation for Clark, however, which could allow her to change her mind in the near future.

While Clark may be absent from the six-team league, Stewart and Collier can still boast a staggering number of talented players suiting up for Unrivaled’s inaugural season. Kelsey Plum, Brittney Griner, Courtney Vandersloot and Angel Reese have all been rostered, along with many other WNBA players. UConn star and presumptive first-overall pick Paige Bueckers has already signed an NIL deal with the league and is scheduled to make her debut in 2026.

Stewart and Collier have had a busy year organizing Unrivaled, which aims to raise the standards for women’s basketball while capitalizing on the sport’s growing presence in the media landscape. Players in the league are set to earn record-breaking salaries, including an unprecedented six-figure guarantee and prize money for winning a mid-season tournament. Players participating in the first season will also receive temporary equity in the organization. 

Countless celebrity investors have taken part in a massive fundraising effort, and the league has recruited a number of industry insiders to secure broadcasting rights with TNT and TruTV, as well as a streaming deal with Max.