Unrivaled: A New Era for Women’s Basketball
Introduction:
A new women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, has attracted a star-studded roster of investors from the media and sports world. This comes at a time when ratings and general interest in the WNBA and other professional women’s leagues are rising. Unrivaled, founded by New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, recently closed a seed funding round ahead of its January launch. The league aims to offer athletes another option to play basketball in the U.S. during the offseason and help boost salaries for pro women basketball players.
Creating Opportunities and Changing the Narrative:
Unrivaled stands out by offering equity to its athletes, creating a unique investment opportunity for both players and investors. The league also promises contract opportunities that will offer the highest average salary in women’s pro sports league history. Former ESPN president John Skipper, ex-Turner president David Levy, and former Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff are among the media executives who have invested in Unrivaled. NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony and others have also joined through the venture capital firm led by U.S. women’s national soccer team captain Alex Morgan. Skipper believes that investing in Unrivaled is a chance to be part of something impactful without disrupting existing structures.
Filling the Gap and Changing the Calendar:
Unrivaled aims to fill a gap in the calendar for women basketball players by running its season from January to March, before the WNBA season begins. This provides an additional opportunity for athletes to play basketball in the U.S. during their offseason. The league’s compressed full-court style of play, featuring 30 of the top women’s basketball players across six teams, will take place on a soundstage in Miami. The smaller court size allows athletes to showcase their skills without the presence of extra players on the court, creating a more dynamic and fast-paced game.
Investor Roster and Growing Interest in Women’s Sports:
The roster of investors in Unrivaled reflects the growing interest in women’s sports. NBA All-Star Steve Nash, LGPA champion Michelle Wie West, Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, and others have invested in the league. This diverse group of investors highlights the potential for growth and success in women’s sports. Media executives John Skipper and David Levy will also negotiate media rights deals for Unrivaled, an important aspect of the league’s financial success. The league plans to secure sponsorship opportunities, with a few brands already committed.
Salary Disparity and Earning Potential:
The recent attention on WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark has brought renewed scrutiny to the salaries of professional women athletes. Despite her record-breaking performance and high viewership numbers, Clark’s rookie salary contract is significantly lower than that of male counterparts in other sports. However, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reminded that Clark has the potential to earn up to half a million dollars in WNBA wages this year, in addition to endorsement deals. Engelbert emphasized the need to look beyond base salaries and consider the earning potential of women athletes through various avenues.
Conclusion:
Unrivaled represents a new era for women’s basketball, providing athletes with equity and high-paying contract opportunities. The league’s impressive roster of investors demonstrates the growing interest and potential for growth in women’s sports. By filling a gap in the calendar and offering an alternative to playing overseas, Unrivaled aims to boost salaries and create more opportunities for professional women basketball players. With negotiations for media rights and sponsorships underway, the league is poised to make a significant impact in the world of women’s sports.
