The women’s basketball ecosystem is entering a period of rapid expansion, and few questions loom larger than whether Unrivaled and the WNBA could eventually align.
On Monday, Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell made clear that no option is being dismissed as the league plots its next phase of growth.
“I don’t want to speak too much of what’s going on behind the scenes, but as I’ve made very clear we’re open to grow the ecosystem,” Bazzell said.
“Whichever way that looks like. For us there is nothing on the table or off the table.”
From its inception, Unrivaled has been transparent about its desire to work with the WNBA.
In September, Bazzell told Front Office Sports that the league approached the WNBA “early” to explore a formal partnership, an offer that was ultimately declined.
That initial rebuff has not closed the door permanently, particularly as the broader basketball landscape continues to evolve.
“What you look at right now is there’s a collaboration that’s going on in NBA Europe,” Bazzell said.
“That was not a formal partnership before. As long as you can look at the space in an innovative lens, anything is doable, anything is possible.”
A crowded ecosystem and rising competition
The urgency around cooperation is being fueled by competition.
By this time next year, Project B, a new traveling 5-on-5 league, plans to launch with several current and former Unrivaled players already committed, including Alyssa Thomas and Jewell Loyd.
Beyond that immediate challenge, there is a longer-term concern if the WNBA eventually moves toward player exclusivity as salaries rise.
That belief aligns with sentiment inside WNBA circles, where many view the league as still at least one collective bargaining agreement away from offering salaries that would justify exclusivity.
The WNBA and the WNBPA are currently engaged in contentious CBA negotiations, with player pay and competition windows at the center of the dispute. Historically, increased salaries have been tied to a longer season, raising legitimate questions about how many offseason leagues can sustainably coexist.
The structure of women’s professional basketball has long been shaped by this reality. Former NBA commissioner David Stern established the WNBA as a summer league designed to complement the men’s calendar.
For decades, players supplemented income and development by competing overseas. In recent years, domestic alternatives such as Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited, and now Project B have reshaped those options.
Unrivaled’s momentum and its vulnerabilities
Despite the competitive pressure, Unrivaled enters this phase from a position of strength. The league recently announced an oversubscribed Series B investment valuing it at $340 million, following an inaugural season that generated more than $27 million in revenue.
This offseason, Unrivaled expanded to eight teams with the additions of Hive Basketball Club and Breeze Basketball Club, added a fourth weekly night of games, and eliminated back-to-backs. It also increased arena capacity in Miami and added a tour stop in Philadelphia.
Still, challenges remain. Cofounder Napheesa Collier will miss the season due to ankle injuries requiring surgery, and the league failed to retain several high-profile players, including Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, and Loyd.
While 75 percent of Unrivaled‘s player pool is signed through 2028, Project B‘s multimillion-dollar salaries have already proven enticing enough to lure stars back overseas.
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