Exclusive Interview: WNBA Star Napheesa Collier Shares Excitement for the Future of ‘Unrivaled’ Basketball League

During the WNBA offseason, players venture overseas to continue playing and earn extra income while traveling and competing year-round.

Minnesota Lynx superstar, Napheesa Collier, identified the challenges of this non-stop lifestyle and decided to team up with New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart to establish Unrivaled, a new basketball league aiming to keep players in the U.S. during the offseason. The league will feature 30 professional women’s basketball players competing in 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 formats in Miami, Fla.

The league is set to launch in January 2025, with significant positive feedback from players and stakeholders across the board.

“We have (gotten commitments). I can’t talk too much about it, but we’re moving along and we’re really excited. We’re launching in January 2025,” Collier said in an episode of the Hitting the Hardwood Podcast with Mitchell Hansen. “The feedback has been all really positive and all the players are really excited. Everyone we’ve talked to is really excited. We think this is obviously a really great thing, so we just can’t wait to get that started.”

Unrivaled’s primary goal is to provide players with an opportunity to play in the U.S. during the offseason, mitigating the need to travel overseas for income. Collier believes this setup will lead to improved WNBA performance and fewer player injuries caused by year-round play.

“I hope it provides us with a place in the U.S. where we can continue to get better at our game while also making money here,” she said. “So many of us have to play overseas to make money and I think a lot of injuries come from that because players aren’t getting the rest that their body needs.”

According to Collier, Unrivaled aims to enhance players’ personal brands and expand the game’s visibility beyond the WNBA season. This new platform will allow more fans to watch their favorite players in action.

In addition to her excitement about Unrivaled’s potential, Collier sees it as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in women’s basketball. She hopes that the league will continue as a valuable outlet for generations of players.

Listen to the Full Podcast

Hear the entire Hitting the Hardwood podcast with Napheesa Collier, including her full reflection of the 2023 season and her plans for the future.