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Napheesa Collier reveals the real reason she and Breanna Stewart built Unrivaled
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- Napheesa Collier reveals the real reason she and Breanna Stewart built Unrivaled
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
For Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, launching Unrivaled wasn't just a business move, it was a direct response to a broken system.
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier launched Unrivaled back in 2023, officially hitting the court for its first season in early 2025. It's a 3-on-3, player-owned league built specifically for the WNBA off-season, giving the game's top stars a way to earn real money at home without flying across the world.
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And by offering equity stakes to its players, the fast, physical league gives them a real piece of the business while keeping them rested, healthy, and close to their families.
Napheesa Collier points to WNBA shortfall for Unrivaled
Napheesa Collier didn't sugarcoat why she and Breanna Stewart had to step up. Looking around a league where players were hopping on flights overseas ten days after the finals, battling burnout, and missing out on family life, she knew something had to give.
Unrivaled wasn't just a fun side project, it was a direct fix for a system that was wearing everyone down.
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Speaking to Meg Culmo, she explained: "Stewie and I had both been in the league for a while. We both had kids at that time, and you just see the holes that are in it. Um, you know, people were going overseas like 10 days after the W season, playing year round, you know, getting a lot of injuries from that. You're not with your family. And we talked a little bit about like branding is so huge now for women's athletes."
The upcoming season tips off in January and runs through March, with co-founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier headlining the league alongside top names like Paige Bueckers, Satou Sabally, Kelsey Plum, Aliyah Boston, Angel Reese, and Rhyne Howard.
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