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21,000 people. Twenty-one thousand fans packed into an arena in Philadelphia for an Unrivaled Season 2 midseason game. For context, that's more than most WNBA regular-season games. That's more than many college women's basketball games. That's more than some NBA games in smaller markets. And this was for a three-on-three offseason league that's only in its second year of existence.
What happened in Philadelphia wasn't just a successful women’s basketball event. It was proof of concept. It was a statement. It was the precursor to the semi-final games in Brooklyn at Barclays Arena, which drew 18K fans on a Monday night with 2 weeks’ notice. And it was a very loud message to the WNBA and every other women's basketball entity: This is what happens when you actually invest in women's basketball.
The Unrivaled Championship game is tonight, where the Phantom and the Mist (two teams who were knocked out of playoff contention last season) will go head to head. Let's talk about how we got here, what Season 2 meant, and why 21,000 fans in Philadelphia might be the moment everything changed – for this league and the WNBA.
Who will win the 2026 Unrivaled Championship game tonight?
What Is Unrivaled? (For Those Just Tuning In)
Unrivaled is a three-on-three women's basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. It launched in January 2025 with a bold premise: create a professional women's basketball league that operates during the WNBA offseason, pays players competitively, and gives them the option to stay in the United States rather than go overseas to earn money.
The format is three-on-three, played on a smaller court with a faster pace and a shot clock that makes every possession count. Games are high-scoring, physical, and absolutely electric to watch. Think And1 Mixtape meets professional basketball, with the best women's basketball players in the world.
Season 1 was a proof of concept: can you build a league from scratch, get top talent to buy in, and create a product people want to watch? The answer was a resounding yes.
Season 2? That's when Unrivaled went from "interesting experiment" to "legitimate threat to the established order."
What Made Season 2 Different
Here's what I think Unrivaled did really well:
BTS Vlogs on Youtube. YouTube wasn’t just a home for content originally created for social media. It became a dedicated space for long-form video, made for search and returning viewers. This is one of my favorite videos on the channel. It showcases the personalities of the players so well. Speaking of which…
Embrace personality and talents. Numerous players have done sideline color commentary when their team wasn’t playing, like Skylar Diggins and Monique Billings. Aziaha James has DJ’d at an event for the league. The Studbudz have brought their banter to the in-game color commentary as well when Courtney Williams called the game Natisha Hiedeman was playing in. Players have been able to start podcasts while playing in Unrivaled thanks to their dedicated podcast studio on the campus. If there was a question of what comes next when the basketball stops dribbling, Unrivaled has provided a space for players to seek answers.
A funded development pool. Instead of calling a player who’s living on the other side of the country to come play in a game last minute, development players are hosted in Miami throughout the season. They’re given access to facilities and can quickly be rotated into a team lineup if a player becomes unavailable for a game. Aziaha James is playing in the championship game with the Phantom for this very reason.
Highlight coaches and coaching staff. Sometimes coaches get lost in the sauce until it’s time for an in-game interview (which I have mixed feelings on). In Unrivaled, the coaches, their staff, and visiting athletes who work with players are on display. Fans get a closer look at how coaches bring out the best in players, especially under difficult and challenging circumstances.
Create events, not just games. The WNBA has attempted to do this with “rivalry” games and by scheduling Paige’s first game against the team in her home state, for example, but they haven’t quite generated the same anticipation and excitement. From the games in Philadelphia and Brooklyn to the 1v1 tournament, the atmosphere, the production, the buildup—it all mattered.
The Philadelphia Moment
Let's zoom in on the game in Philadelphia; it deserves its own section.
21,000 fans showing up isn't just impressive—it's historic. It's the kind of attendance that makes the “nobody watches women’s sports” crowd rethink their life choices.
Think about what had to happen for 21,000 people to buy tickets to this game:
They had to hear about it (marketing)
They had to care enough to spend money (compelling product)
They had to believe it would be worth their time (quality of play)
They had to actually show up (fan experience)
Unrivaled delivered on every single one of those fronts.
The atmosphere in that arena was electric. The players fed off the crowd. The crowd fed off the players. Social media exploded with videos of the environment, the plays, and the celebrations. It was everything you want a special event to be, including a 47-point performance from Marina Mabrey (who also scored the game-winner).
And here's the kicker: this was in Year Two. Imagine what Year Five looks like. Unrivaled has already said they will be returning to Philadelphia, AND announced that the semi-finals would be played in Brooklyn with two weeks’ notice. They sold out Barclays Arena with 18,000+ fans in attendance. Yes, I’m still sad/jealous/salty that I couldn’t be there.
Why the WNBA Should Be Paying Attention (And Worried)
Unrivaled just showed up the WNBA in a major way.
The WNBA has been around for 28 years. They've got institutional knowledge, NBA backing, established infrastructure, and decades of history. And yet, a two-year-old three-on-three offseason league just drew 40,000+ fans to games in cities outside its home arena—with attendance comparable to or better than many WNBA and NBA games.
What does that tell you?
It tells you that fans will show up when you give them a reason to care. Unrivaled markets its players, creates compelling storylines, and makes the games accessible and exciting to watch.
It tells you that players want to be valued. Unrivaled pays competitively and gives players equity. The WNBA is still arguing with players over the CBA, with the March 10 deadline less than a week away.
It tells you that innovation matters. The three-on-three format is fast and fun, but that’s not the only selling point of the league’s structure. Daycare service, a development pool, and adequate training facilities fit for pros are all part of the allure for players.
It tells you that women's basketball has been underserved. If an offseason league can draw 40,000+ fans in a season half as long, imagine what's possible if the primary league actually invested in growth.
This isn't to say Unrivaled will replace the WNBA. But Unrivaled is absolutely forcing the WNBA to reckon with the fact that they've been underperforming relative to the appetite for women's basketball.
I am extremely hopeful that a deal will be reached in time for the WNBA to have a 2026 season. After tonight, it’s all that fans and players will be thinking about. Do you think we’ll have a WNBA season this year? Vote below!
Do you think we'll have a WNBA season this year?
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