• Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell says the 3-on-3 league is open to partnering with the WNBA.
• Unrivaled offers paid offseason play and equity for players; average pay last season was $222,222.
• League leaders say Unrivaled complements, not competes with, the WNBA and its offseason calendar.
• Talks weren’t constant previously, but “door is always open,” Bazzell said.
H2: Unrivaled says a partnership is possible
Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell told reporters as the league tipped off its second season that he wouldn’t rule out a future partnership with the WNBA. “We’re not in constant dialogue about that … but as I’ve made very clear, we are open to growing the ecosystem, whichever way that looks like,” Bazzell said. “Nothing is on the table or off the table. … I’m not going to speculate what could happen down the road, but everyone knows our door is always open.”
H3: Where Unrivaled fits in the women’s basketball calendar
Bazzell compared Unrivaled’s role to other offseason opportunities such as predraft combines, pro-ams and the NBA summer league — activities designed to grow the sport’s ecosystem. A key differentiator is pay: Unrivaled paid an average salary of $222,222 last season and also offered equity stakes to players. That model positions the league as a paid domestic offseason option rather than a direct rival to the WNBA.
H4: The “unrivaled schedule” as part of the ecosystem
League leaders emphasize that the Unrivaled schedule is built to complement the WNBA offseason, offering shorter, high-profile 3-on-3 competition that keeps players in shape and visible to fans. Bazzell said that approach aims to expand opportunities for players and create more touchpoints for women’s basketball throughout the year.
H3: Partnership attempts and league rules
Sources told ESPN last year that Unrivaled co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart initially offered the WNBA a small equity share to show alignment. That offer was reportedly turned down because it could have violated league rules. Bazzell stressed Unrivaled’s intent is to grow the sport and act as a development hub, not to undercut the WNBA.
H3: Broader context — CBA negotiations and comparisons
As WNBA collective bargaining agreement talks have intensified, Unrivaled has been cited as a comparison point because of its player compensation and equity offers. The WNBPA’s recent proposal — described in media reports as roughly 30% of gross revenue and an estimated $10.5 million salary cap — has been projected by league sources to produce substantial losses if adopted. Bazzell remained firm that both leagues can coexist and thrive: “Where women’s basketball is today, and what we have built is so unique, one doesn’t need to exist without the other for either to be successful.”
H2: What to watch next
No formal negotiations between Unrivaled and the WNBA are public. Watch for how the Unrivaled schedule, player pay and equity model evolve this season and whether the leagues pursue formal or informal collaborations that expand opportunities for players and fans.
Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/47515155/unrivaled-president-open-partnering-wnba-future
