Some of the most recognized names in women’s basketball took to the court recently, not with the WNBA or international teams, but in an exciting new league.

Unrivaled, a fresh 3-on-3 women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, kicked off Friday night with a doubleheader, featuring the league’s co-founders competing against each other in the opening match.

In a night full of memorable moments, Collier and the Lunar Owls made a comeback in the final quarter to defeat Stewart and the Mist, thanks to a game-winning shot by Skylar Diggins-Smith. Collier scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Stewart recorded six points and 14 rebounds.

In the second matchup, Rhyne Howard led the Vinyl to triumph over Angel Reese and the Rose. Dearica Hamby, who recently played 3-on-3 for Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris, netted the final basket to secure the win.

For its first season, Unrivaled features six teams composed of 36 of the best women’s basketball players globally. Matches will be hosted on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with playoffs starting on March 16. TNT and TruTV will broadcast all the games.

YSL News Sports provided coverage of both games from Friday night’s doubleheader. Check out the detailed recap of the games below.

Final Score: Vinyl 79, Rose 73

The Vinyl emerged victorious against the Rose in the second game of the doubleheader hosted by the Unrivaled League. Dearica Hamby netted the game-winning basket following a pass from Arike Ogunbowale.

Rhyne Howard concluded the match with a remarkable 33 points, sinking six of 12 shots from beyond the arc. Hamby contributed with 15 points and amassed 11 defensive rebounds among her total of 13.

“I always strive to play every game as if I’m the top player on the court, and I believe I demonstrated that today,” Howard commented.

Kahleah Copper put up 24 points for the Rose, while Chelsea Gray added 21 points along with nine rebounds.

What are the fourth-quarter rules in the Unrivaled League?

The inaugural game between the Mist and the Lunar Owls ended with a thrilling finish on Friday night, showcasing the type of excitement fans can expect this season.

While the first three quarters consist of seven-minute segments, the league adopts the Elam Ending format for the fourth quarter, culminating in an untimed period.

A target score is established by adding 11 points to the leading team’s tally at the end of the third quarter. The first team to nail that target score wins. In this instance, the Mist led 73-67 at the end of the third, meaning their target score was set at 84.

“We showcase the best players globally, and we aim to do them justice,” said Napheesa Collier of the Lunar Owls. “We want to highlight everyone’s skills and ensure that every game is engaging. I think this was an excellent debut game for that – demonstrating what we can achieve and the experience we offer.”

End of Third Quarter: Vinyl 67, Rose 58

Rhyne Howard delivered 11 points in the third, totaling 27 points as the Vinyl entered the crucial final quarter. Dearica Hamby added 13 points and notched 12 rebounds against the Rose.

Kahleah Copper scored 18 points for the Rose, while Angel Reese tallied a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

Brittany Sykes made history by hitting the first half-court shot in the league’s history at the close of the third quarter.

The wining target score is set at 78.

Halftime: Vinyl 39, Rose 38

The Vinyl’s Rhyne Howard led the way with 16 points in the first half against the Rose. Dearica Hamby contributed with eight points and eight rebounds. Kahleah Copper paced the Rose with 14 points, while Chelsea Gray added 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

End of First Quarter: Vinyl 23, Rose 15

Rhyne Howard was impressive with 13 points for the Vinyl in the first quarter, and Dearica Hamby added four points and four rebounds. Howard sank two of four three-point attempts.

Angel Reese contributed six points and three defensive rebounds for the Rose.

Game 2: Rose vs. Vinyl in Progress

The second game of the evening’s doubleheader has commenced in Florida.

The Vinyl leads the Rose 5-4 with 5:21 remaining in the opening quarter. Angel Reese of the Rose made her first layup in Unrivaled’s history after executing a clever pump fake.

The Rose started the game with Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray, and Kahleah Copper, while the Vinyl featured Arike Ogunbowale, Dearica Hamby, and Rhyne Howard.

Final Score: Lunar Owls 84, Mist 81

Skylar Diggins-Smith secured victory for the Lunar Owls with a decisive three-pointer in the closing moments of the match against the Mist.

Diggins-Smith ended the game with 11 points and three rebounds.

“This game shows that a comeback is always possible,” an exhilarated Diggins-Smith expressed after the win. “I’m thrilled to claim the very first victory in Unrivaled history.”

Napheesa Collier finished with 25 points and nine out of ten rebounds taken on defense for the Lunar Owls, while Jewell Loyd scored a remarkable 29 points for the Mist.

The atmosphere was electric, with the lively music and Diggins-Smith’s game-winner energizing the audience. She likened the excitement of this inaugural game to a high school state championship.

End of Third Quarter: Mist 73, Lunar Owls 67

The Lunar Owls featured four players scoring ten points each, including Napheesa Collier. She accumulated 25 points and secured 10 rebounds, while Courtney Williams contributed 14 points and seven defensive rebounds. Jewell Loyd was impressive for the Mist with her 29 points.

The first team reaching 84 points during the untimed fourth quarter will claim victory in this matchup.

Napheesa Collier Achieves First Double-Double

Lunar Owls co-founder Napheesa Collier recorded the first double-double of the Unrivaled season during the third quarter of their opening game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Mist was ahead 56-54 at that point.

Halftime: Mist 46, Lunar Owls 44

Jewell Loyd and the Mist maintained their lead against the Lunar Owls after the first two quarters. Loyd led all players with 23 points, while Aaliyah Edwards secured eight points and seven rebounds.

Napheesa Collier recorded 15 points and seven rebounds for the Lunar Owls, with Courtney Williams chipping in with 10 points and six defensive rebounds.

A total of 75 shots were taken in the first half.

Unrivaled Referees Wear Sephora Logo

All individuals on the court are involved in the marketing and branding efforts during Unrivaled games.

During the league’s opening match, referees were seen sporting the Sephora logo on their uniforms.

The players are also adorned with an Ally logo at the bottom of their jerseys.

Kobe Bryant’s Influence on Unrivaled

Kobe Bryant, renowned for The Los Angeles Lakers continue to leave a significant mark on the world of basketball.

Aaliyah Edwards from the Mist sports purple and yellow braids as a tribute to Bryant. Her teammate Jewell Loyd is known as the Gold Mamba—a nickname that Bryant himself created for her.

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

Bryant was among the nine victims of a helicopter crash in 2020.

End of First Quarter: Mist 20, Lunar Owls 19

Breanna Stewart from the Mist made the first assist of the game. Skylar Diggins-Smith achieved the inaugural rebound in the league’s history while defending for the Lunar Owls.

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

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

Unrivaled Kicks Off: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC

The opening game of Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, has started with Mist BC going up against Lunar Owls BC. Breanna Stewart, one of the league’s founders, made history by scoring the first points in Unrivaled after her Mist BC teammate Jewell Loyd secured the opening tip.

When Are the First Unrivaled Basketball Games?

The new Unrivaled women’s basketball league will launch on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET. The opening night features two scheduled games, alongside a pre-game show and a post-game discussion.

• 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 air the Unrivaled basketball games on Friday night. Play-by-play commentator Brendan Glasheen will be joined by analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok throughout Unrivaled’s inaugural season, along with a rotating lineup of reporters, including Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready, and Ros Gold-Onwude.

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

Unrivaled Live Stream: How to Stream Games

All games of Unrivaled basketball can be streamed live on Max. Fans can also access the games via Sling.

Catch Unrivaled basketball games on Sling

Who Is Playing on Unrivaled 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 practicing with the team but is not available to play due to an 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? A New Women’s Basketball League Explained

Unrivaled aims to enhance visibility for women’s basketball, particularly during the WNBA off-season. Co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league will feature a three-on-three format, with the 2025 season planned for the Miami area.

The first season will involve some of the biggest names in the WNBA, with a total of 36 players across six teams. The games are set to commence on Friday, Jan. 17 and conclude with the league final on Monday, March 17.

In a league press release, it was stated, “Unrivaled is player-owned and provides participating players in its first season with equity opportunities for a personal stake in the league’s success – alongside offering the highest salaries in the history of professional women’s sports leagues.” — 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 launch of Unrivaled.

Is Caitlin Clark Playing in the Unrivaled Season?

WNBA star Caitlin Clark would naturally be a strong candidate to help kick off a new basketball league. Last season, the Indiana Fever guard showcased her skills, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game during her rookie year.

However, it was reported in November that she will not be participating in Unrivaled’s first season. The 22-year-old had an intense 2024 season, which included leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA women’s basketball championship against South Carolina. She was then selected as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and earned the Rookie of the Year title.

Where Will Unrivaled Basketball Games Take Place?

The inaugural season of Unrivaled will be held just outside Miami at a specially constructed venue in Medley, Florida, created in collaboration with the league and its production partner, Mediapro. The venue has a capacity of 850.

Unrivaled: Format and Rules for the Women’s Basketball League

Unlike FIBA or Olympic three-on-three basketball, Unrivaled will utilize a full court with baskets at both ends. Due to the smaller number of players on the court at any one time, the dimensions will be 70′ by 50′ (in contrast to the WNBA’s 94′ by 50′). Games will consist of four quarters, each lasting seven minutes.

Each team will play a total of 14 games, and the four teams with the best records by the end of the regular season will advance to single-elimination semifinals. The winners will compete in a final game scheduled for Monday, March 17. — Jason Anderson

Unrivaled 2025 Teams and Rosters

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 practicing with the team but is unable to play 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