A brand new skilled ladies’s basketball league is coming to the US, and it may change every little thing for the sport’s prime athletes. The Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart — former teammates the College of Connecticut and two of the WNBA’s largest stars — are launching Unmatched, a three-on-three basketball league to happen in Miami throughout the WNBA offseason. The league will likely be player-owned and boast a minimal wage of $100,000, and can give gamers a chance to remain within the U.S. throughout the offseason slightly than play abroad.
Particulars surrounding Unmatched have been revealed in rolling style, and this week, Collier took to Twitter to reply followers’ questions and share extra details about how every little thing will work. Right here’s what we discovered.
Which WNBA stars are taking part in in Unmatched?
Unmatched will embrace thirty of the most important WNBA stars, and can notably be player-owned. Over the previous few months, the league’s official Twitter account has been teasing details about members and revealing names one after the other in an effort to extend the excitement across the league.
Ten members — all WNBA All Stars — already been introduced: Breanna Stewart (Liberty), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Arike Ogunbowale (Wings), Chelsea Grey (Aces), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Kelsey Plum (Aces), Rhyne Howard (Dream), Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Jackie Younger (Aces), and Angel Reese (Sky). Moreover, College of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers is slated to affix in 2025.
Angel Reese’s collaborating may show significantly useful for drawing consideration to the league given her monumental following — Reese’s 3.8 million Instagram followers make her essentially the most adopted athlete in ladies’s basketball.
Angel is ✨a enterprise lady✨& is aware of the ability of possession. That is the one funding as basketball gamers we are able to management. Angel is a part of this group that’s bringing in a ton of viewership, she ought to have long run upside within the progress of basketball! Plus we’re in Miami… https://t.co/0vSii4tF7Q
— napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
“Angel is a enterprise lady AND is aware of the ability of possession,” Collier mentioned, through X. “That is the one funding as basketball gamers we are able to management.”
Collier additionally revealed 4 rookies (and counting) are set to play, although solely Reese has been formally introduced to date. Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Kate Martin, Rickea Jackson, and different prime WNBA rookies may be within the combine.
When and the place will video games be performed?
Unmatched will host two video games in a row, three nights per week. Collier mentioned that the league is within the last levels of media negotiations, however that “will probably be very simple for followers to seek out us”, presumably on tv or on a streaming platform.
The league will likely be based mostly in Miami, however will go on tour to a number of cities all through the season.
Collier additionally mentioned the sport size will likely be “regular basketball” slightly than the Olympics’ 10-minute quarters. “That appears hectic and tiring,” she wrote.
Nah, that appears hectic and tiring
Ours is gonna really feel like regular basketball simply with extra spacing. 4 quarters, 2 subs on every group, and coaches. https://t.co/PnSyQG65FO— napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) August 9, 2024
How will Unmatched rosters be assembled?
Unmatched will embrace six groups, with 5 gamers on every group. A variety committee will break up groups by place and ability, and and there will likely be participant motion between groups just like the WNBA, per Collier.
It doesn’t sound just like the league’s co-founders will likely be paired up.
“Sadly Sunday stands out as the final time me and Stewie play collectively till Nationwide group begins again up once more,” Collier wrote.
Every group can have a head coach, an assistant, and a group supervisor. Some coaches will likely be from the WNBA, whereas others received’t.
“We’ll have a very good assortment of skilled coaches,” Napheesa Collier wrote.
The place can individuals purchase tickets?
Tickets will likely be introduced within the fall on the official website, www.unmatched.basketball. There will even be jerseys for buy, Collier assured followers.
What’s the cope with the one-on-one match?
Along with the three-on-three element, gamers will even compete in a single-elimination on-on-one match, with the winner receiving a minimal of $250,000.
