Unrivaled basketball league: Live updates and highlights from opening night

Posted by Admin January 17, 2025 Basketball

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Some of the biggest names in women’s basketball are back in action – not with the WNBA or international teams – but in a brand new league.

Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league created by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, officially tips off tonight. Games will be played on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays with the playoffs beginning March 16. TNT and TruTV are broadcasting all games.

For the inaugural season, Unrivaled will feature six teams, consisting of 36 of the top women’s basketball players, including WNBA stars such as Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston, Alyssa Thomas, and of course Stewart and Collier.

The TNT broadcast team also features notable women’s basketball figures, such as Lisa Leslie, who serves as an in-game analyst, and Candace Parker, who works on the studio coverage team.

The first night of competition features a doubleheader that will see Stewart’s Mist BC team take on Collier’s Lunar Owls BC squad. That game will be followed by Reese and Rose BC squaring off against Boston’s Vinyl BC team.

USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of tonight’s action. Follow along for news, updates, scores and highlights.

Kobe Bryant, a longtime player for the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to have an impact on the game of basketball.

Aaliyah Edwards of the Mist is wearing purple and yellow braids in honor of Bryant. Teammate Jewell Loyd is referred to as the Gold Mamba, a nickname Bryant gave her.

Bryant was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash in 2020.

Mist’s Breanna Stewart was credited with the first assist. Skylar Diggins-Smith recorded the first rebound in the league’s history while on defense for the Lunar Owls.

The first game of Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league has tipped off with Mist BC taking on Lunar Owls BC. Breanna Stewart, one of the league’s founders, has the distinction of scoring the first points in Unrivaled history after Mist BC teammate Jewel Lloyd collects the opening tip.

When are the first Unrivaled basketball games?

The new Unrivaled women’s basketball league debuts Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET. There are two games scheduled for opening night, preceded by a pre-game show and followed by postgame analysis.

Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC: 7:15 p.m. ET
Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC: 8:15 p.m. ET

Unrivaled TV channel: How to watch tonight’s games

TNT will broadcast Friday night’s Unrivaled basketball games. Play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen and analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok will provide game commentary throughout Unrivaled’s inaugural season, joined by a rotation of reporters including Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready and Ros Gold-Onwude.

TNT’s studio coverage will be anchored by three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP Candace Parker, former WNBA All-Star Renee Montgomery and host Lauren Jbara.

Unrivaled live stream: How to stream games

All Unrivaled basketball games can be live streamed on Max. Fans can also stream games on Sling.

Watch Unrivaled basketball games on Sling

Game 1: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC

Mist BC roster: Breanna Stewart (captain), Jewell Loyd, Courtney Vandersloot, DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards.
Lunar Owls BC roster: Napheesa Collier (captain), Skylar Diggins-Smith, Courtney Williams, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink (Note: Brink is practicing with the team but will be unable to play due to injury).

Game 2: Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC

Vinyl BC roster: Arike Ogunbowale (captain), Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby.
Rose BC roster: Chelsea Gray (captain), Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens.

Unrivaled is the latest push to drive more attention towards women’s basketball, particularly during the WNBA offseason. The league, founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, will operate in a three-on-three format, with the 2025 season taking place in the Miami area.

Some of the biggest names in the WNBA were sorted among the 36 players and six teams that will compete in this first season, with play beginning on Friday, Jan. 17 and running through the league final on Monday, March 17.

According to a league press release, “Unrivaled is player-owned, offering participating players in its inaugural season equity opportunities for a vested interest in the league’s success – in addition to the highest salaries in professional women’s sports league history.” — Jason Anderson

Steve Nash, a two-time MVP and an eight-time NBA All-Star, was on hand to take in the debut of Unrivaled.

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark would be an obvious inclusion to kickstart a new basketball league. The Indiana Fever guard took her shooting prowess to the next level and dominated to the tune of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game through her rookie season.

However, as was reported in November, she will not suit up for Unrivaled’s inaugural season. The 22-year-old is coming off a busy 2024 that saw the star take the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA women’s basketball championship against South Carolina. She then became the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, putting together a season that earned her Rookie of the Year honors.

Unrivaled’s first season will take place just outside of Miami at a custom-built venue in Medley, Florida, assembled by the league and its production partner, Mediapro. The venue has a capacity of 850.

Unlike FIBA or Olympic three-on-three basketball, Unrivaled will play on a full court, with baskets at each end. Owing to the lower number of players on the floor at any given time, the playing surface will be 70′-by-50′ (as compared to the 94′-by-50′ size used in the WNBA). Games will be played in four seven-minute quarters.

Each team will play 14 games, with the top four teams at the end of the regular season advancing to one-game semifinals. The winners of those games will move on to a one-game final set for Monday, March 17. — Jason Anderson

Laces BC

Jackie Young
Tiffany Hayes
Kayla McBride
Kate Martin
Alyssa Thomas (capt.)
Stefanie Dolson
Coach: Andrew Wade

Lunar Owls BC

Skylar Diggins-Smith
Courtney Williams
Allisha Gray
Cameron Brink (note: Brink is practicing with the team but will be unable to play due to injury)
Napheesa Collier (capt.)
Shakira Austin
Coach: DJ Sackman

Mist BC

Jewell Loyd
Courtney Vandersloot
DiJonai Carrington
Rickea Jackson
Breanna Stewart (capt.)
Aaliyah Edwards
Coach: Phil Handy

Phantom BC

Sabrina Ionescu
Natasha Cloud
Marina Mabrey
Katie Lou Samuelson
Satou Sabally (capt.)
Brittney Griner
Coach: Adam Harrington

Rose BC

Chelsea Gray (capt.)
Brittney Sykes
Kahleah Copper
Lexie Hull
Angel Reese
Azurá Stevens
Coach: Nola Henry

Vinyl BC

Arike Ogunbowale (capt.)
Jordin Canada
Rhyne Howard
Rae Burrell
Aliyah Boston
Dearica Hamby
Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

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