Unrivaled Closes $340M Valuation Series B to Redefine Women’s Basketball

Unrivaled, the groundbreaking women’s basketball league founded by athletes for athletes, has secured a $340 million valuation with its oversubscribed Series B funding round, cementing its place as one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world.

Presented by Samsung Galaxy, a bold, player-first professional women’s basketball league, has officially closed an oversubscribed Series B investment round led by Bessemer Venture Partners and joined by such high-impact backers as Serena Ventures, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures, all accelerating the league’s meteoric rise since its debut in 2023. With this funding, Unrivaled announces a new valuation of $340 million, making it one of the most valuable young sports properties, and underscoring both its commercial momentum and its disruptive vision for the business of women’s sports.

A Visionary, Athlete-Driven League

Unrivaled was conceived by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, two of the WNBA’s brightest stars, with the singular goal of making athletes true stakeholders and creators, not just talent on the court. The league’s model explicitly gives its founding players and first-season stars equity shares in the company, granting them not just unprecedented compensation (with league salaries averaging over $220,000 per year) but also a direct piece of the league’s business success and future growth.

Rather than sending top talent overseas during the WNBA offseason, Unrivaled offers a world-class, highly competitive U.S.-based alternative with an intense, fast-paced 3-on-3 format on a compressed court, designed for television and max fan engagement.

Structure, Culture, and Expansion

Unrivaled launched its inaugural season in January 2025 in Miami’s Wayfair Arena, with 36 players divided into six teams: the Laces, Lunar Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, and Vinyl. The league has since become known for its game innovations (including a single-elimination 1-on-1 tournament) and for signing top-tier talent, including Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Jewell Loyd, and Paige Bueckers, who recently signed a landmark NIL deal to join Unrivaled in 2026.

For 2026, Unrivaled is expanding to eight teams with two new squads: Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club. This expansion brings the total roster to 48 players, with a new development pool to ensure continuity, limit injuries, and provide more opportunities for star and developing talent.

The Investor Group and Player-First Model

With Bessemer Venture Partners leading the Series B, Unrivaled raises the bar not just for women’s sports but for sports entrepreneurship as a whole. New backers also include Trae Young, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, Darryll J. Pines, Sam Rapoport, and Next Legacy Partners, all joining the ranks of original investors like Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Billie Jean King, Coco Gauff, Michael Phelps, Ashton Kutcher, Marc Lasry, and Dawn Staley.

Unrivaled’s athlete-first philosophy also means that, as the league’s valuation increases—the $340 million figure set after this round- players directly benefit from equity appreciation. This type of model is still rare in sports leagues and is viewed as a game-changer in the movement for long-term financial empowerment of athletes.

Leadership, Schedule, and Fan Access

Alex Bazzell, a respected coach and the husband of Collier, serves as Unrivaled’s president, working alongside Commissioner Micky Lawler and top executives from across sports and entertainment. Games are broadcast nationally on TNT and TruTV, with the league’s first year drawing 221,000 U.S. viewers per game, outperforming many established properties. For 2026, Unrivaled will add a fourth night of games per week and avoid back-to-back matchups for player welfare, a first for a North American sports league of this scale.

Unrivaled is independent of the WNBA, allowing for a true alternative in the women’s sports landscape. The next season tips off in January 2026, and fans can catch up with highlights, player profiles, and more by following @UnrivaledBasketball and through the official website.