Paige Bueckers signed a three year deal with the Philadelphia Unrivaled league. She is expected to surpass her four year WNBA salary within the first 10 weeks of her Unrivaled season contract. Photo courtesy of @paigebueckers on Instagram

The WNBA season has officially come to a close with the Las Vegas Aces taking the championship title; however, fans can now look forward to the approaching Unrivaled season, featuring many star WNBA players. The Unrivaled League debuted last season in Miami, founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. The league will begin its second season in January 2026, bringing about multiple changes and new additions.  

The 3-on-3 league is expanding by adding two new teams, Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club, adding 12 additional roster spots. The league originally planned on continuing to be a six-team league for the second year; however, they outperformed in projected profit in the opening year, allowing them to already start expanding. The league is going into the season valued at $340 million. Additionally, the league is adding a dedicated development player pool, which will consist of a group of reserve players. These players will be on a salary and practice with the league to be available to fill in for injured players. The reserve will consist of WNBA players on rookie contracts who are looking for an opportunity to develop while getting paid. The league is also adding this addition due to the number of replacement players they had to bring in last season due to various injuries.  

The league is also adding new features to its facilities. It is adding a second practice court and 150 seats to the game arena to accommodate the immense growth it has experienced. The additional seats will bring the capacity of the home arena in Miami from 850 to 1,000 seats. However, the league will not be solely played in Miami, FL, this season two games will be played in Philadelphia at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Four clubs will play at the arena in back-to-back matchups on Jan. 30. The clubs that will play in Philadelphia will be announced upon the schedule release in November. The game will mark a historic moment for women’s basketball and Philadelphia, as it is the first women’s professional basketball game played in Philadelphia since 1998.  

The league has already announced new players who will be joining the league this season. UConn alum, Paige Bueckers is among the newcomers. Bueckers signed a three-year deal with the league in April and became an investor in the league. She also worked with the league while in college through an NIL deal. Bueckers currently earned $78,831 in her rookie season of the WNBA. She is projected to exceed what she would make in four years of her WNBA rookie contract in her first 10-week Unrivaled season contract. The salary contrast between the WNBA and the Unrivaled League displays the immense success and growth the league is bringing to women’s basketball. Top WNBA rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have also been announced as joining the league.  

Liberty Player Natasha Cloud holding up Philly Unrivaled promo. Photo courtesy of @unrivaledbasketball on Instagram

Veteran top players in the WNBA have also been named to the Unrivaled League roster. Top guard Kelsey Plum has been named to the league after a notable absence from the league in its inaugural season. WNBA MVP finalist Kelsey Mitchell and WNBA Most Improved Player Veronica Burton are also notable additions to the league.  

Notable returners to the league for the 2026 season include founders Stewart and Collier. In addition, Satou Sabally, Natasha Cloud, Aaliyah Edwards, Alyssa Thomas, Rickea Jackson, Jackie Young and Dearica Hamby have also been announced as returning to the league. Notable absences include Caitlin Clark, 2025 MVP A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese, who contributed to her team’s Unrivaled championship last season. Clark sat out most of the WNBA season due to various injuries, with many speculating she will pursue other options in the off-season. However, the league still has two spots to fill.  

The league has also worked on ensuring its future by signing 14 college basketball players to NIL deals. Notable players who signed include Juju Watkins, Flau’jae Johnson, Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo.  

Unrivaled is truly the future of women’s basketball. The league experienced immense success in its inaugural season, which allowed them to further expand for the second season. The new players, teams and locations will bring even more excitement to the 2026 Unrivaled season.