What's next for Unrivaled? Year 2 will include visits to other markets, more players
MEDLEY, Fla. – As the inaugural Unrivaled season ends with Monday night’s championship game between the Rose and Vinyl, the women’s basketball league is already looking forward to Year 2 and beyond.
Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell told USA TODAY Sports the league has been “sustainable” in Year 1, though he did not disclose any financial details.
Bazzell said Unrivaled has averaged about 218,000 viewers on TNT/TruTV during its first season – still navigating its brand awareness among casual basketball fans not yet familiar with the alternative 3-on-3 women’s basketball league.
However, Unrivaled players have collectively gained 1 million followers on social media since the league began in mid-January, Bazzell said – a sign they’ve gained traction among supporters that could continue to build during the upcoming 2025 WNBA season.
"I think what's most important is what we built here is sustainable. We have brought in the revenue. We have the best players in the world. We have the best brands in the world behind us. We have people who are investing in the best of the best, and I think we're only just getting started,” Bazzell said during an interview this week.
“What we're proud about is we built this runway. We don't have to go year to year and figure out, 'How do we keep the lights on?' We are going to be here for a while. We are going to be here with the best of the best, and we're going to make sure that we push the boundaries forward on what the resources look like for the players. And I think that's what is always going to kind of where we're going to plan our flag is, as long as we exist.”
Unrivaled will continue to be based at a centralized location to avoid the overhead of multiple franchises in different cities. It will still operate in Year 2 at Mediapro Miami, a production studio about seven miles away from Miami International Airport.
Bazzell did say there's a plan to make at least one or two offsite visits to other markets in the United States, with the goal to expand the game of women’s basketball. He did not share which locations were under consideration, but said Unrivaled is targeting outside of the markets WNBA teams occupy, including the expansion markets of Golden State, Toronto and Portland.
"We love being in Miami. We love serving the community. We also have an obligation to get our product and, honestly, get our players in front of bigger crowds," he said. "So, we want to go to larger venues. Call it 15,000- or 20,000-seat venues, going to different markets. Our brands would love to do it. We know Turner would love to do it.
"We have an obligation to help grow the ecosystem and the fandom of women's basketball.”
Unrivaled will continue in Year 2 with six clubs – Lunar Owls, Rose, Laces, Vinyl, Mist and Phantom. But at least 6-8 players will be added to the player pool, Bazzell said.
"We certainly will have more players on-site next year than we did this year, but we'll stick with six teams,” Bazzell said.
As for its home base, Unrivaled wants to increase the 850-seat capacity main court named Wayfair Arena.
"I think the big thing that separates us is how intimate it is. We want to keep that. We don't want to be too big. But I think adding anywhere from 100 to 150 seats is probably a priority for us moving into next season,” Bazzell said.
Adding some more room between player locker rooms so teams aren’t in adjacent areas – especially after games – is also a focus.
"It's tough when you're right next to a team. They come in and celebrate, and you have to hear through the walls when you just lost the game,” Bazzell said. "That isn’t a huge thing to fix, but it adds the overall experience of the best players wanted to be here, feeling comfortable, feeling like it's great atmosphere.”
Unrivaled continues to see itself as an "informal partner” with the WNBA, he added. The league is an offseason alternative for women’s basketball players to stay home domestically instead of traveling abroad to play in other countries.
The Unrivaled players are partners and not employees, sharing ownership equity in the league. The play is fast-paced, competitive and has change the landscape of the sport in the United States.
"I think we're ecstatic with everything that we've done. There's a lot of unknowns when you come into a new league, a new format of basketball, a bunch of players who really don't play together — how they're going to mix coaches they haven't worked with before. A lot of variables, right? Like, a lot of ways that things can go wrong," Bazzell said. "But inevitably, it all meshed and kind of fit perfectly. It's almost like it was destined to be.
“I think first and foremost, the thing we're most proud about is we didn't get everything right in Year 1, but the players have shown so much grace. ... The foundation that we've laid is somewhat unparalleled in terms of a Year 1 kickoff. So, we're really proud of what we've done, and obviously we still have some work to do.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Unrivaled? A couple road games and more players Year 2
Topics
-
Q&A: Napheesa Collier on Unrivaled pushing personal brands, March Madness and more
Unrivaled intentionally pushes personal brands of its WNBA player-led league. For The Win sat down with co-founder Napheesa Collier to discuss why.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Sixers add 2 more players to injury report vs. Pacers at home
The Philadelphia 76ers add 2 more injury report for their matchup with the Indiana Pacers at home on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Angel Reese's Unrivaled season likely ends with injury, defensive player of year honors
Angel Reese was named Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year, shortly before the league announced she won’t play in Sunday's semifinal playoff game.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Unrivaled DPOY Reese (hand) to miss semifinal
Newly minuted Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese will miss the Rose's semifinal game vs. the Laces due to a hand injury.ESPN - 2d -
Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier is league's inaugural Most Valuable Player
Napheesa Collier was named Unrivaled Most Valuable Player for her dominant season, leading the Lunar Owls in the league's inaugural season.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Fallout Season 2 Leaks Reveal More New Vegas Locations
The first season finale of Amazon's Fallout TV series wasn't ambiguous about where the show was going next. Season 2 is heading to New Vegas, the bombed-out remains of Las Vegas that featured ...GameSpot - 6d -
Mubama named February’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month
Elite Development Squad striker Divin Mubama has been named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month after his fantastic performances in February.The 20-year-old, who joined the Club from West Ham ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Ad spending on women's sports more than doubled last year
Ads during women's sports programs were 40% more impactful than the average primetime advertisement, according to EDO.CNBC - 6d -
Yahoo Sports AM: Brackets revealed
In today's edition: Brackets revealed, Bengals lock up Chase and Higgins, 17-year-old wins at Indian Wells, the Hanshin Tigers steal the show, playoff at The Players, and more.Yahoo Sports - 16h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
WVU snub 'robbery' at highest level, gov. says
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants his attorney general to investigate and work closely with the NCAA to ensure the men's tournament selection process is transparent and fair.ESPN - 21m -
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket: Computer simulation predicts surprising upsets, March Madness picks, sleepers
When does the March Madness 2025 schedule start, and when are 2025 NCAA Tournament brackets due? The 2025 March Madness bracket begins on Thursday, March 20CBS Sports - 42m -
MLB's villains or its gold standard? How the Los Angeles Dodgers got here
Love them or loathe them, the defending champs built a new evil empire with a series of monumental moves.ESPN - 57m -
With Paul George out for the year, 76ers look ahead to NBA draft lottery with immense stakes for franchise
It all comes down to the ping pong balls now for Philadelphia, and the stakes have never been higherCBS Sports - 1h -
S. Alabama has NIT invite nixed: 'Unacceptable'
South Alabama had its invitation to the NIT rescinded after the Jaguars were informed they would be playing, a decision the coach called "unacceptable."ESPN - 1h