The inaugural season of Unrivaled has come and gone, and the league has announced its increased valuation of a historic $340 million. In addition, it revealed the addition of two clubs: Breeze BC and Hive BC.Β
Unrivaled, a professional 3v3 women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars and former UConn Huskies Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, has quickly emerged as one of the most transformative and groundbreaking women’s professional sports leagues of its time.
Experiencing unprecedented growth and investment, Unrivaled has reached record-breaking valuations. The league, valued at $35 million in December 2024, now reports a valuation of $340 million. As of September 2025, that is nearly an 871 percent increase in estimated value.
βWeβre continuing to align with partners who elevate our league and accelerate our strategic growth. With Bessemer Venture Partners leading this round,Β UnrivaledΒ is in an unprecedented position for a new sports league,β saidΒ UnrivaledΒ President Alex Bazzell. βBessemerβs world-class leadership, combined with the collective influence of our entire investor group, amplifies our mission and pushes the industry forward. This rise inΒ Unrivaledβs valuation reflects investor confidence and proves that athlete-driven models can thrive at the highest levels of business.β
Unrivaled Doubled Its Revenue in 2025
Headlined by stars such as Collier, Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Alyssa Thomas, Skylar Diggins and Allisha Gray, Unrivaled offers the highest salaries in women’s professional sports. A league for the players, by the players, it features unique amenities and a pay scale with player equity. With sold-out arenas, state-of-the-art facilities, and increasing fandom, Unrivaled has unequivocally set the standard for women’s professional sports leagues.
After one season under its belt, the league doubled it’s revenue, and Team Rose captured the first championship in Unrivaled history. With an average player salary north of $200,000, Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell revealed that salaries will increase in 2026. Additonally, 90 percent of the players have been signed for the 2026 season, and they will share an equity pool of 15 percent. Currently, the players received just 10 percent of the WNBA’s revenues.
Series B Unrivaled Investors Include Trae Young, Franz Wagner
Backed by investors such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dawn Staley, Alex Morgan, Carmelo Anthony, Coco Gauff, Steph Curry, Geno Auriemma, Billie Jean King, and JuJu Watkins, just to name a few, Unrivaled has a diverse and high-profile group of investors. In 2024, UnrivaledΒ secured $28 million in Series A funding, after raising $7 million during its seed round.
Unrivaled has announced the closure of its oversubscribed Series B investment round. Led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Serena Ventures, Morgan’s Tyybe Ventures, and Warner Bros. Discovery, investors are increasingly committed to the league.
Unrivaled’s Series B investment includes NBA All-Star and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, as well as Orlando Magic frontcourt duo Moritz Wagner and Franz Wagner. The following people are included in the Series B round:
- Darryl J. Pines, (University of Maryland President) and Sylvia Pines
- Sam Rapoport, Award-winning sports executive
- Next Legacy Partners
With a growing list of stakeholders, Unrivaled has secured official partners that include notable names.Β Samsung Galaxy, Ally, Under Armour, Sephora, State Farm, Miller lite, Wayfair, VistaPrint, IcyHot, Sprite, Morgan Stanley, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Bodyarmour are all major sponsors and partners.
UNRIVALED π
December 2024: The league had a valuation of $35M9 months later, the league announced they have a valuation of $340M!! pic.twitter.com/gqrzEm376o
β Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 8, 2025
Unrivaled Builds a Growing Pipeline of Future Stars
Over WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, Unrivaled announced NIL deals with 14 prominent college players. Featuring USC’s JuJu Watkins, UConn’s Azzi Fudd, and LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, the league is capturing the nation’s greatest players, signaling a business model built for the future.
βAt Bessemer, weβve had the privilege of backing many category-defining companies, and we believeΒ UnrivaledΒ is building the next great sports league,β said Caty Rea, Vice President at Bessemer Venture Partners. βWhat impressed us most is the leagueβs outstanding business performanceβachieving both rapid growth and impressive unit economics in its first year of operationsβalongside its focus on both athlete advocacy and extraordinary fan engagement. Weβre thrilled to partner withΒ UnrivaledΒ to take the league to the next level.”
The announcement comes just four months ahead of the seasonβ critical time as the WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire on October 31, 2025. While the Players Union and league officials appear to be far apart on an agreement, a work stoppage or extension is possible. Donning ‘Pay us what you owe us’ T-shirts during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, it’s clear the players are demanding a fair share of the pie, elevated salaries, and several other benefits.
While Unrivaled provides much higher salaries, state-of-the-art amenities, and revenue sharing, the league offers players the option to stay stateside, rather than play overseas in the offseason. Providing top-of-the-line facilities, Unrivaled includes private entrances and exits, chefs, a childcare center, and a hair and makeup room. Additionally, the Mediapro facility is an intimate, tech-based, and innovative space.
Taking Unrivaled to the next level.
With Unrivaled players remaining the largest equity group, this is how athlete-driven success looks. Thank you for the support of all our investors in this round and previous rounds. π pic.twitter.com/OFXidFnWBaβ Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) September 8, 2025
Paige Bueckers’ WNBA and Unrivaled Salary: By the Numbers
Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, signed a three-year contract worth $247,688 with the Dallas Wings.Β The former UConn star earned $78,831 in her rookie season. Over her first three years in the WNBA, Bueckers will earn an average of $82,563.
Having signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled in April 2024, Bueckers is set to make upwards of $350,000 per year, according to Jack Maloney of CBS. Not only would this exceed her rookie-scale WNBA contract in a single season, it represents a 344 percent increase from her rookie season to her first season in Unrivaled.
With the average WNBA salary hovering around $102,000 in 2025, Unrivaled continues to pressure the league to redefine its structure and meet player demands. Unrivaled has set the standard for revenue sharing, salaries, premium services, and elite marketing and broadcasting.
The Paige Bueckers Rookie Mixtape is going to be nasty! pic.twitter.com/JSAl3rP78g
β Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 8, 2025
Could Unrivaled Influence WNBA CBA Negotiations?
The WNBA’s explosive growth will expand to league to 18 teams by 2030.Β Record-breaking expansion feeds, attendance, merchandise sales, viewership, and social media platforms all helped the league secure a 11-year $2.2 billion media rights deal. With expansion fees bidding north of $250,000, Unrivaled’s continued growth and investment turns up the heat on the WNBA at the right time. Just recently, the WNBA introduced charter flights in 2024, which more demands in store.
According to Sportico, the Golden State Valkyries lead the WNBA in valuation at $500 million in their inaugural season. With Unrivaled’s rapid growth, how much of an effect will this have on the ongoing CBA negotiations? The WNBA, valued atΒ $3.5 billion, has experienced significant growth since the arrival of Caitlin Clark.
Announcing two new clubs in 2026, Unrivaled will sign an additional 18 players, bringing the total roster to 54. With four game nights each week, the league modified adjustments to its player relief pool and.
Unrivaled will tip-off January, 2026.
Follow Sara Jane Gamelli on X: @SaraJGamelli.
