A fresh wave of prominent sports personalities has joined the investor lineup of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, as it looks to expand following a successful inaugural season.
The league recently announced a substantial valuation of $340 million US after concluding its oversubscribed Series B funding round, spearheaded by Bessemer Venture Partners. This remarkable achievement underscores the growing momentum and interest in women’s sports.
Among the new investors are Serena Williams’ Serena Ventures, Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, Orlando Magic’s Franz and Moritz Wagner, University of Maryland president Darryll J. Pines and his wife Sylvia, and renowned sports executive Sam Rapoport. Additionally, Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures and Warner Bros. Discovery have increased their stakes in the league.
Stewart, a standout forward for the New York Liberty, expressed her pride in the collective effort that has propelled Unrivaled to its current success, emphasizing the league’s potential for future growth and development.
This latest round of investments follows a significant Series A funding of over $28 million secured by the league last December, in addition to the $7 million raised during its initial seed round in May 2024.
Prior to the league’s debut season, several notable figures, including NBA stars Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Carmelo Anthony, as well as prominent coaches and athletes like Geno Auriemma, Dawn Staley, Coco Gauff, and Michael Phelps, had already shown their support for Unrivaled.
Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell highlighted the league’s strategic partnerships and growth trajectory, with Bessemer Venture Partners playing a pivotal role in positioning Unrivaled as a groundbreaking sports entity. Bazzell reiterated the success of athlete-driven business models in the league’s development.
Established by WNBA stars Collier and Stewart in 2023, Unrivaled offers top players an alternative platform to compete in the U.S. during the offseason, supplementing their WNBA earnings. The league’s inaugural season, which commenced in January, saw players earning record-high salaries in women’s professional sports and holding equity stakes in the league.
The season concluded with Rose clinching the championship, featuring prominent players such as Angel Reese, Brittney Griner, and others. Unrivaled garnered an average of 221,000 viewers on TNT and truTV during the regular season, with a sold-out postseason held in Miami.
The upcoming second season of Unrivaled is set to kick off in January 2026, promising further excitement and growth for the burgeoning women’s basketball league.
