The opening night of action for the new Unrivaled basketball league will take place on Friday, Jan. 17 and fans will see the games throughout the debut weekend of this women’s 3×3 league at Mediparo in Medley, Fla.
The Friday games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on TNT. On Saturday, games are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on truTV. And on Monday the action returns to TNT at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Fans looking to watch this weekend’s Unrivaled games can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial or with SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available. MAX has plans starting at just $9.99/month, and includes movies, original series and more.
The league features a number of WNBA All-Stars along with two-time MVP Breanna Stewart. In addition to Stewart, fellow New York Liberty teammates and defending WNBA Champions Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot will also be playing in the league. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, the Liberty’s opponent in the 2024 WNBA Finals is one of the co-founders along with Stewart. Additionally, Angel Reese, Cam Brink, Alyssa Thomas, Arike Ogunbowale, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young and Brittney Griner are all also competing in the league.
Game 1: Mist vs. Lunar Owls
Game 2: Rose vs. Vinyl
Where: Mediparo in Medley, Fla.
Stream: Sling; DirecTV Stream; MAX
Game 1: Phantom vs. Laces
Game 2: Lunar Owls vs. Rose
Where: Mediparo in Medley, Fla.
Stream: Sling; DirecTV Stream; MAX
Game 1: Vinyl vs. Phantom
Game 2: Laces vs. Mist
Where: Mediparo in Medley, Fla.
Stream: Sling; DirecTV Stream; MAX
Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.
What is MAX?
MAX is a streaming service that combines the catalogues of HBO and the various channels that make up the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks like CNN, Discovery Channel and TLC. The service is also partnered with Bleacher Report to provide sports coverage for anything covered by Turner Sports such as the NBA on TNT, the NHL on TNT, college basketball games on TNT and TBS and the Unrivaled 3×3 basketball league. You can also bundle your MAX subscription with Disney+ and Hulu.
RELATED CONTENT:
Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, set for debut
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Unrivaled is ready for its closeup.
The new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier will debut Friday night.
The idea for the domestic league was first discussed a couple of years ago and now it’s come to fruition.
“I can’t even put it into words what it’s going to be like,” Stewart said. “But just the fact that there’s so much hype, there’s so much content, so much chatter about opening night and we worked really hard to get to this point both on and off the court. Excited to kind of just go in and showcase what we’ve done.”
The league features 36 of the best players in the WNBA, including the two co-founders, whose teams will play against each other on opening night. Sensational WNBA rookie Angel Reese’s team plays in the second contest.
“I think I’ll be taking it all in in the introductions,” Collier said. “Once the ball goes up, it’s just the game.”
The games will be played on a court that’s about 20 feet shorter than the WNBA court. There are three seven-minute quarters and then the fourth quarter will be played to a “winning score.” That total will be determined by adding 11 points to the squad which is leading after three quarters.
Lisa Leslie, who will be one of the analysts for the broadcast that will be shown on TNT and TruTV, was there at the beginning of the WNBA. Now, she’s here for the launch of this league.
“It’s unrivaled and unmatched for the women to have such a first class experience in every way,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s different from my first season in the WNBA, where we shared the locker room with the Lakers, which is also an amazing experience. This is just different and it’s just time, like they have their own facilities, their own weight room and massage. This is so first class.”
Unrivaled money
Same as WNBA games, players took part in a halfcourt shootout after their morning practices. Shakira Austin made the first one and earned $100 for her efforts. She went last as the youngest player on the Lunar Owls and had the advantage of knowing that the shorter court meant a closer shot.
“It’s a great start to the day,” Austin said.
While the halfcourt money is the same, players are making a lot more as the league boasts the highest average salary for a professional women’s league.
___
This story is part of the AP’s Inclusive Journalism Initiative with The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Kendra Andrews, ESPNJan 18, 2025, 12:08 AM ETMIAMI -- Skylar Diggins-Smith separated herself from DiJonai Carrington just outside the 3-point arc and launched a
Betting integrity firms are investigating Eastern Michigan’s men’s basketball program after reports of unusual wagering activity surfaced during
Indiana bounced back from a pair of blowout losses to Iowa and Illinois earlier in the week with a 77-76 overtime win over Ohio State Friday night at Value City
A case could be made that nobody on the planet is more familiar with the BYU-Utah basketball rivalry than current BYU assistant coach Chris Burgess.He got a tas