• Loading stock data...
Saturday, October 18, 2025

Unrivaled Founder Says Growing League Has ‘No Conflict’ With WNBA

Unrivaled co-founder Alex Bazzell says he’s hopeful the WNBA and its union come to an agreement. Bazzell is the husband of Napheesa Collier, a WNBPA board member.

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

INDIANAPOLIS — Downtown Indianapolis is fully decorated for the WNBA All-Star Weekend. But in an unassuming warehouse less than a mile from Gainbridge Fieldhouse sits a makeshift headquarters for Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league that played its inaugural season in January.

Unrivaled co-founder Alex Bazzell was present at the league’s HQ on Thursday, while his two co-founders, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, were not. The two were attending WNBA events, including the league’s first in-person CBA meeting with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).

Collier, who is Bazzell’s wife, and Stewart have received backlash for holding WNBPA executive committee roles while simultaneously running Unrivaled. Earlier this month, Collier responded to a viral tweet accusing the duo of a “conflict of interest.”

Bazzell addressed the criticisms Thursday, saying Unrivaled’s ownership group has never looked at the league as a “competitive tool” against the WNBA.

“There’s so many positives from us both being in existence. I tell people all the time: The WNBA continuing to grow and thrive helps our league. … I’m hopeful they come to a CBA agreement,” Bazzell told reporters, including Front Office Sports, on Thursday.

He added that no players are “more equipped” than Stewart and Collier to help lead the WNBPA in its negotiations because of their experience with Unrivaled.

“[They] know what goes on in the thought process of what goes on in [pro sports leagues] and where revenue comes from,” Bazzell said.

Despite Unrivaled’s nascency, it was able to offer players an average salary of $220,000 in its first season—nearly double the average annual pay of WNBA players. Salary is the crux of the divide between the WNBPA and its union, which had more than 40 players present during Thursday’s meeting. Several Unrivaled players were in the meeting, including Angel Reese and Natasha Cloud, but also a few who were not in the first season, like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum.

When Unrivaled launched in January, Collier said the timing of the league’s launch and the WNBA CBA negotiations was a “perfect opportunity.”

“With the timing with the CBA, I think it’s just the perfect time to kind of blow the lid off of what our image of women’s sports and how you treat women’s athletes is,” Collier said. “ I think we’re seeing what we like here and seeing what is possible, and we’re going to take that to the table when we go.”

Whether Unrivaled was mentioned in Thursday’s meeting is unclear. When asked by FOS whether he had an idea of what happened in the CBA meeting, Bazzell said: “I have heard, but I’m not privy to share.”

Expansion Plans

The WNBA announced three new expansion teams last month. Unrivaled is also looking towards expansion.

Bazzell revealed that the league is expected to add six additional players to its pool. However, the league will not add to its 36 roster spots. 

“We’re adding six additional players that are always in market,” Bazzell said. “We want to continue to add roster spots, but we want to do it thoughtfully.”

It’s still unclear how the six additional players will participate in the league, though it’s likely they will fill in for injured players, which was a problem the league faced in Year 1. Bazzell revealed that the league’s plan is to add two expansion teams in the 2027 season, bringing the total up from six to eight.

Bazzell also said the league is looking to play games in cities outside Miami, where it has an 850-seat arena. “We’re looking at a number of venues. We’re close to finalizing one that will come out shortly,” Bazzell said. 

Unrivaled is expected to make additional announcements this weekend.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Jon Ledecky

Islanders Owner Warns WNBA Against Labor Strife: ‘No Bueno’

Jon Ledecky drew a stark contrast between the two leagues.
Dave Checketts

Ex-Knicks President: When David Stern Accused Me of Skirting Cap

The Knicks walked away clean when accused of cap circumvention in the 1990s.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
IndyCar driver Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, left, celebrates winning the Detroit Grand Prix with team co-owner Dan Towriss in Detroit on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss Defends  $700 Million Apple Deal

“We’re going to have a bigger reach than what people think.”
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Second place Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) sprays champagne on winner Mercedes driver George Russell (63) at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 17, 2025

Apple Officially Taking F1 Rights From ESPN in $700M Deal

ESPN has broadcast F1 in the U.S. since 2018.
Hansi Flick
October 17, 2025

Barcelona Players, Coach ‘Not Happy’ About Miami Game

La Liga is on the verge of relocating a December match.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 16, 2025

NHL Expansion Fee Soars to $2B As League’s Value Surges

The buy-in price for the league will more than triple.
WNBA
October 16, 2025

WNBA Says All-Star Game Will Return to Chicago Next Year

The league’s CBA expires in two weeks.
October 15, 2025

NHL Raises Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Arena’s Delayed Construction

The commissioner says construction progress in Italy remains a deep concern.
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena.
October 14, 2025

Dawn Staley Says NBA Far From Ready to Hire a Female Head..

South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach interviewed with the Knicks.