Prominent figures in women’s basketball are returning to the court – not via the WNBA or global teams, but in a brand new league.

Unrivaled, the fresh 3-on-3 women’s basketball league established by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, officially begins tonight. Matches will take place on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with playoffs commencing on March 16. TNT and TruTV will air all the games.

For its debut season, Unrivaled will showcase six teams made up of 36 top-tier women basketball players, including WNBA icons such as Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston, Alyssa Thomas, alongside Stewart and Collier.

The broadcasting team on TNT also includes prominent figures from women’s basketball, such as Lisa Leslie, who will serve as an in-game analyst, and Candace Parker, who will be part of the studio coverage team.

The opening night features a thrilling doubleheader, beginning with Stewart’s Mist BC facing off against Collier’s Lunar Owls BC. This match will be followed by a showdown between Reese and Rose BC against Boston’s Vinyl BC squad.

YSL News Sports will provide live coverage of this evening’s events. Stay tuned for updates, scores, and highlights.

Unrivaled Referees Display Sephora Branding

Marketing and branding opportunities extend to every individual involved during Unrivaled matches.

The referees officiating the season opener were seen with the Sephora logo displayed on parts of their uniforms.

Players also showcased the Ally logo at the bottom of their jerseys.

Kobe Bryant’s Legacy in Unrivaled

Kobe Bryant, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers player, continues to influence the sport of basketball.

Aaliyah Edwards of Mist BC sported purple and yellow braids as a tribute to Bryant. Her teammate Jewell Loyd is honored with the nickname Gold Mamba, a title bestowed upon her by Bryant.

Former Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy, who collaborated with Kobe Bryant from 2011 to 2013, is the head coach for the Mist.

Bryant tragically lost his life in a helicopter accident in 2020.

End of First Quarter: Mist 20, Lunar Owls 19

Breanna Stewart of the Mist tallied the first assist, while Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Lunar Owls recorded the inaugural rebound in league history.

Jewell Loyd led the Mist with eight points in the first quarter, and teammate Aaliyah Edwards contributed six points.

Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams managed four points each for the Lunar Owls.

Unrivaled Kicks Off: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC

The opening match of Unrivaled, the innovative women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, has commenced with Mist BC opposed to Lunar Owls BC. Breanna Stewart, one of the league’s co-founders, made history by scoring the first points in Unrivaled after Mist BC teammate Jewell Loyd grabbed the opening tip-off.

When Will the First Unrivaled Basketball Games Take Place?

The new Unrivaled women’s basketball league kicks off on Friday, January 17, at 7 p.m. ET. Two matches are scheduled for the opening night, featuring a pre-game show and post-game analysis.

• Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC: 8:15 p.m. ET

Unrivaled TV Channel: How to Watch Tonight’s Games

• TV Channel: TNT (TruTV)

TNT will broadcast the Unrivaled basketball matches on Friday night. Play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen will be joined by analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok for game commentary throughout the league’s first season, alongside a rotating crew of reporters including Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready, and Ros Gold-Onwude.

The studio coverage on TNT will be led by three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP Candace Parker, along with former WNBA All-Star Renee Montgomery and host Lauren Jbara.

Unrivaled Live Stream: How to Stream Games

Fans can live stream all Unrivaled basketball games on Max. Sling will also provide options for streaming the games.

Watch Unrivaled basketball games on Sling

Who Will Compete on Unrivaled’s Opening Night?

Game 1: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC

• Mist BC Roster: Breanna Stewart (captain), Jewell Loyd, Courtney Vandersloot, DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards.
• Lunar Owls BC Roster: Napheesa Collier (captain), Skylar Diggins-Smith, Courtney Williams, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink (Note: Brink is training with the team but will not play due to injury).

Game 2: Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC

• Vinyl BC Roster: Arike Ogunbowale (captain), Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby.
• Rose BC Roster: Chelsea Gray (captain), Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens.

What Is Unrivaled? Overview of the New Women’s Basketball League

Unrivaled is the latest initiative aimed at increasing visibility for women’s basketball, particularly during the WNBA’s offseason. Founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league will implement a three-on-three format, with the 2025 season planned to be held in the Miami area.

A selection of the most prominent WNBA players have been included among the 36 athletes and six teams competing in this initial season, which runs from January 17 through March 17.

According to a press release from the league, “Unrivaled is player-owned, granting players involved in the first season equity opportunities for a vested interest in the league’s success, in addition to offering the highest salaries in professional women’s sports league history.” — Jason Anderson

Basketball Hall of Famer in Attendance

Steve Nash, a two-time MVP and eight-time NBA All-Star, was present to witness the debut of Unrivaled.

Is Caitlin Clark Participating in the Unrivaled Season?

The WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark would indeed be a noteworthy participant to launch a new basketball league. The Indiana Fever guard showcased her shooting skills while averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game during her rookie season.

However, as reported last November, she will not be joining Unrivaled’s inaugural season. The 22-year-old recently completed a busy 2024, leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA women’s basketball championship against South Carolina and subsequently becoming the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, earning Rookie of the Year honors.

Where will the games take place?

The inaugural season of Unrivaled will occur near Miami, specifically at a specially constructed venue in Medley, Florida, created by the league in collaboration with its production partner, Mediapro. This facility can accommodate up to 850 spectators.

Unrivaled: Structure and rules for the women’s basketball league

In contrast to FIBA or Olympic three-on-three basketball formats, Unrivaled will utilize a full-sized court with baskets located at both ends. Given the fewer players on the court at once, the dimensions will measure 70 feet by 50 feet, as opposed to the 94 feet by 50 feet size used in the WNBA. Each game will consist of four quarters, each lasting seven minutes.

Every team is scheduled to participate in 14 games, with the top four teams at the conclusion of the regular season proceeding to single-elimination semifinals. The victors of these matches will then clash in a one-off final set for Monday, March 17. — Jason Anderson

Unrivaled 2025 teams and player lineups

Laces BC

• Jackie Young
• Tiffany Hayes
• Kayla McBride
• Kate Martin
• Alyssa Thomas (captain)
• Stefanie Dolson
• Coach: Andrew Wade

Lunar Owls BC

• Skylar Diggins-Smith
• Courtney Williams
• Allisha Gray
• Cameron Brink (note: Brink is training with the team but won’t be playing due to an injury)
• Napheesa Collier (captain)
• Shakira Austin
• Coach: DJ Sackman

Mist BC

• Jewell Loyd
• Courtney Vandersloot
• DiJonai Carrington
• Rickea Jackson
• Breanna Stewart (captain)
• Aaliyah Edwards
• Coach: Phil Handy

Phantom BC

• Sabrina Ionescu
• Natasha Cloud
• Marina Mabrey
• Katie Lou Samuelson
• Satou Sabally (captain)
• Brittney Griner
• Coach: Adam Harrington

Rose BC

• Chelsea Gray (captain)
• Brittney Sykes
• Kahleah Copper
• Lexie Hull
• Angel Reese
• Azurá Stevens
• Coach: Nola Henry

Vinyl BC

• Arike Ogunbowale (captain)
• Jordin Canada
• Rhyne Howard
• Rae Burrell
• Aliyah Boston
• Dearica Hamby
• Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon