- Sports-Unrivaled League. 900 words.
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By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Nearly three years ago, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport while traveling to Russia to play overseas during the WNBA offseason. She was held for nearly 10 months after being charged and sentenced for possessing vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
Her harrowing experience highlighted the risks and uncertainties athletes face when seeking offseason opportunities abroad, underscoring the need for a safer, domestic alternative — a gap the Unrivaled Basketball League aims to fill for WNBA players.
“I was looking forward to it,” Griner said about the league, which debuted its inaugural season Jan. 17. “I feel like something was missing in my offseason.
“I wanted to go back to working year-round. So it just kind of helped me stay fresh, stay knocking all the dust off, and just being ready for when the W comes back around.”
The Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League (UWBL) was co-founded by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart in 2023. The three-on-three professional women’s basketball league features a shorter court, six teams and 36 WNBA players, including Phoenix Mercury teammates Griner (Phantom Basketball Club), Kahleah Copper (Rose Basketball Club) and Natasha Cloud (Phantom Basketball Club).
Most players earn more than $100,000, giving the league the highest average salary in women’s sports from an $8 million salary pool. In addition, players receive equity in the league, and play in a February 1-on-1 tournament that will award $250,000 to the winner, plus $10,000 for each member of the winner’s Unrivaled team.
“Just to be clear, I think overseas is still a great option,” Collier said. “We just think it shouldn’t be your only option, so we wanted to give players other things that they could do in their home countries.
“I was really lucky. I liked my team in Istanbul. I was on Fenerbahce, they’re a great organization, but it is really hard to move your family. The flights are long (and) the time change is hard, just like, getting childcare is always hard when you’re not around your family. So that part is really difficult. I think it’s a great option. We just wanted to be able to provide more things for people as well.”
Investors in the UWBL include Phoenix Suns legend Steve Nash and USWNT soccer legends Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan.
“Any chance for WNBA players to continue to play in the U.S. and for more fans to be able to see them play is a great thing,” said Vince Kozar, Phoenix Mercury president and COO. “I’m excited to see those teams and that tournament come to life.”
Copper plays alongside Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese as the Rose Basketball Club (1-2) faces the Laces BC (3-0) Monday night. The Mercury guard leads the team in scoring and ranks fifth in the league with 18.7 points per game through three games.
Cloud, who plays with Griner on Phantom BC after being traded from the Lunar Owls BC on Dec. 21, averages 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Griner poured in 29 points Friday against the Mist and hit a late jumper to lead Phantom to its first win of the season. She averages 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
“Everyone’s excited to be here and a part of the first season, but don’t let it be mistaken when we step over those lines,” Cloud said “We’re competing against one another, and that’s the part we love the most, is being able to get out there, fight for your team, fight for your pride, (and) everything when you get out on that court.
“But when we step off that court, I’m just really appreciative to be around greatness every single day.”
As Griner and other players continue to play offseason basketball in Unrivaled, it would greatly benefit their development and help them earn more money in the U.S.
Over the years, WNBA players have often traveled to countries like Turkey and Russia to earn more money during the offseason. These overseas opportunities typically provide higher compensation than their annual salaries from WNBA teams, along with benefits such as housing, shopping allowances, and other perks.
Griner’s arrest changed all of it.
“Just like we saw (last) year in Phoenix, BG is still an elite player in our league and her love for the game comes through every time she takes the floor,” Kozar said. “I know the offseason can sometimes get long so I’m sure she’s excited to be on the floor with other WNBA players getting meaningful reps during the winter. For me, any chance I get to see BG play, I’ll tune in.”
Another source of additional income some WNBA players receive while staying stateside is the Player Marketing Agreement (PMA), which allows players to earn as much as $250,000 for serving as brand ambassadors for the WNBA and its advertising partners.
As the inaugural season of Unrivaled began in January, women’s basketball fans are optimistic about seeing offseason hoops to help grow the game in the future.
“It’s been amazing,” Copper said. “A lot of people had a lot of things to say about unrivaled (and) how it would (look) the first season, but it’s been great. I’m grateful that they’re able to put some pressure on things that we deserve and the things that we’re pushing for.”
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