The WNBA off-season is currently at a critical crossroads as fans and players alike wait for a breakthrough in the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) negotiations. With the league in a “status-quo” period after the January 9th deadline passed without a formal extension, the 2026 season’s start date remains a major question mark. However, that uncertainty hasn’t slowed down the momentum of women’s basketball.
On the contrary, the Unrivaled League has spectacularly filled the void, recently shattering attendance records with 21,490 fans in Philadelphia. This is the highest mark for the young league and the top five for any professional women’s regular-season game, talking, of course, about the WNBA.
Unrivaled Path for the 1on1 Tournament
A significant contributor to the “Unrivaled” fever is WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, who is now focusing on the highly anticipated 1-on-1 tournament. Paige Bueckers has been sensational this year.
She’s averaging 25.0 points per game (PPG), 6.7 assists per game (APG), and 6.0 rebounds per game (RPG). She’s third in the league for scoring, tied for first in assists, and has already won the first free throw challenge. For Paige Bueckers, the upcoming Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s about a payday that nearly matches her entire three-year WNBA contract.
While her deal with the Dallas Wings sits at $247,688 (averaging about $82,563 annually), the winner of this tournament will walk away with a staggering $200,000 grand prize. With that kind of money on the line, the intensity is expected to be through the roof when Pod B play begins on February 11th.
However, the road to that check won’t be easy. According to the recently released bracket, Bueckers has a tricky path ahead:
- First Round (1/8 Matchup): Paige will have to face her own Breeze teammate, Kate Martin. It’s a matchup Martin reportedly wasn’t thrilled about, given that Bueckers is widely considered the toughest draw in the tournament.
- The Quarterfinals: If she advances, Bueckers will face the winner of the high-octane Arike Ogunbowale vs. Brittney Sykes matchup.
Pod B kicks off on February 11th at 8:00 PM, and Bueckers enters as the prohibitive favorite to win her group. Last year’s champion, Napheesa Collier, is unfortunately sidelined with ankle injuries, leaving the throne vacant. For Bueckers, this is the perfect opportunity to prove she’s the best 1-on-1 player in the world while essentially doubling her yearly earnings in a single weekend.
The tournament format, which includes a seven-second shot clock and “make-it, take-it” rules, favors players who can generate a bucket under extreme pressure.
Whether it’s the young star in Bueckers or a seasoned veterans like Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Aliyah Boston, Jackie Young or Kelsey Plum among others, the stakes have never been higher for a domestic off-season event.
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