Some of the biggest names in women’s basketball were back in action – not with the WNBA or international teams – but in a brand new league.
Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league created by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, tipped off Friday night with a doubleheader that pitted the founders against each other in the first game.
On a night filled with first-evers, Collier and the Lunar Owls rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Stewart and the Mist, with Skylar Diggins-Smith hitting the game-winning shot. Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Stewart had six points and 14 rebounds.
Rhyne Howard led the Vinyl to a victory over Angel Reese and the Rose in the second game. Dearica Hamby, who played 3-on-3 for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, collected the final bucket to seal the win.
For its inaugural season, Unrivaled features six teams, consisting of 36 of the top women’s basketball players in the world. Games will be played on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays with the playoffs beginning March 16. TNT and TruTV are broadcasting all games.
USA TODAY Sports had coverage both games of Friday’s doubleheader. See below for a full recap of the action.
Final: Vinyl 79, Rose 73
The Vinyl held off the Rose for a victory in the second game of the Unrivaled League’s doubleheader on Friday night. Dearica Hamby scored the winning basket off an assist from Arike Ogunbowale.
The Vinyl’s Rhyne Howard finished with a game-high 33 points after shooting six-of-12 from the 3-point line. Hamby had 15 points and collected 11 of her 13 rebounds on defense.
‘I just got to approach every game like I’m the best player on the court, and I think I showed that today,’ Howard said.
Kahleah Copper had 24 points in the loss for the Rose, while Chelsea Gray added 21 points and nine rebounds.
What are the Unrivaled League’s fourth-quarter rules?
The Unrivaled League had its first game between the Mist and the Lunar Owls finish with a dramatic ending Friday evening, providing a good example of what fans should expect this season.
While the first three quarters are seven-minute periods, the league follows the Elam Ending rules format in the fourth quarter, where the game concludes with an untimed period.
A target score is set by adding 11 points to the leading team’s score at the end of the third quarter. The first team to reach the target score wins. In this case, the Mist led 73-67 at the end of the third, so 11 points were added to the Mist score, giving a target of 84.
‘We have the best players in the world and we want to do it justice,’ Napheesa Collier of the Lunar Owls said. ‘We want to expose everyone’s talents and put those on display and to have a format where every game is going to be engaging. And so I think this was like a great first game for that. Just showing what we can do and showing what the experience can be like.’
End of third quarter: Vinyl 67, Rose 58
Rhyne Howard scored 11 points in the third quarter to lead the Vinyl with 27 total points entering the fourth quarter. Dearica Hamby contributed with 13 points and 12 rebounds against the Rose.
Kahleah Copper scored 18 points for the Rose while Angel Reese had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Brittany Sykes of the Vinyl hit the first half-court shot in the league’s history at the end of the third quarter. it’s like a 35-foot shot with the shortened court.
The target score to win the game is 78.
Halftime: Vinyl 39, Rose 38
Rhyne Howard scored 16 points for the Vinyl in the first half against the Rose. Dearica Hamby added eight points and eight rebounds. Kahleah Copper led the Rose with 14 points while Chelsea Gray added 10 points and six rebounds.
End of first quarter: Vinyl 23, Rose 15
Rhyne Howard had 13 points for the Vinyl in the first quarter while Dearica Hamby scored four points and collected four rebounds. Howard made two of her four three-point attempts.
Angel Reese had six points and three defensive rebounds for the Rose.
Game 2: Rose and Vinyl underway
The second game of tonight’s doubleheader is underway in Florida.
The Vinyl led the Rose 5-4 with 5:21 left in the first quarter. Angel Reese of the Rose scored her first layup in Unrivaled history, after a pump fake.
Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper started the game for the Rose. Arike Ogunbowale, Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard started for the Vinyl.
Final: Lunar Owls 84, Mist 81
Skylar Diggins-Smith scored the game-winning three-pointer to give the Lunar Owls the victory over the Mist.
Diggins-Smith finished the game with 11 points and three rebounds.
‘That’s the thing about this game, you can come back at any time,’ a pumped-up Diggins-Smith said immediately after the victory. ‘I’m happy to get the first win in Unrivaled history.”
Napheesa Collier scored 25 points and collected nine of her 10 rebounds on defense for the Lunar Owls. Jewell Loyd scored a game-high 29 points for the Mist.
There was a lot of energy, with both the music and Diggins-Smith’s game-winner pumping up the crowd. Diggins-Smith compared this inaugural game to a high school state championship.
End of third quarter: Mist 73, Lunar Owls 67
The Lunar Owls had four players with 10 points, including Napheesa Collier. Collier has 25 points and 10 rebounds while Courtney Williams has 14 points and seven defensive rebounds. Jewell Loyd scored 29 points for the Mist.
The first team to 84 points during the untimed fourth quarter will win the game.
Napheesa Collier records first double-double
League co-founder Napheesa Collier of the Lunar Owls produced the first double-double during the third quarter of Unrivaled’s opening game. She currently has 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Mist lead the Lunar Owls 56-54.
Halftime: Mist 46, Lunar Owls 44
Jewell Loyd and the Mist remain in front of the Lunar Owls after the first half of play. Loyd led all players with 23 points, while Aaliyah Edwards scored eight points while collecting seven rebounds.
Napheesa Collier has 15 points and seven rebounds for the Lunar Owls. Courtney Williams has 10 points and six defensive rebounds.
There were a combined 75 shots taken in the first half.
Unrivaled referees don Sephora logo
Every person on the court is included when it comes to marketing and branding opportunities during Unrivaled games.
The referees during the opening game of the season were spotted with the Sephora logo on various spots of their shirts.
The players also have an Ally logo located at the bottom of their respective jerseys.
Kobe Bryant’s impact on Unrivaled
Kobe Bryant, a longtime player for the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to have an impact on the game of basketball.
Aaliyah Edwards of the Mist is wearing purple and yellow braids in honor of Bryant. Teammate Jewell Loyd is referred to as the Gold Mamba, a nickname Bryant gave her.
Phil Handy, a former Lakers assistant coach who worked with Kobe Bryant from 2011 to 2013, is the head coach for the Mist.
Bryant was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash in 2020.
End of first quarter: Mist 20, Lunar Owls 19
Mist’s Breanna Stewart was credited with the first assist. Skylar Diggins-Smith recorded the first rebound in the league’s history while on defense for the Lunar Owls.
Jewell Loyd scored a game-high eight points for the Mist in the first quarter while teammate Aaliyah Edwards added six.
Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams had four points each for the Lunar Owls.
Unrivaled tips off: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC
The first game of Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league has tipped off with Mist BC taking on Lunar Owls BC. Breanna Stewart, one of the league’s founders, has the distinction of scoring the first points in Unrivaled history after Mist BC teammate Jewel Lloyd collects the opening tip.
When are the first Unrivaled basketball games?
The new Unrivaled women’s basketball league debuts Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET. There are two games scheduled for opening night, preceded by a pre-game show and followed by postgame analysis.
Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC: 7:15 p.m. ET
Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC: 8:15 p.m. ET
Unrivaled TV channel: How to watch tonight’s games
TV channel: TNT (TruTV)
TNT will broadcast Friday night’s Unrivaled basketball games. Play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen and analysts Lisa Leslie and Sarah Kustok will provide game commentary throughout Unrivaled’s inaugural season, joined by a rotation of reporters including Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready and Ros Gold-Onwude.
TNT’s studio coverage will be anchored by three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP Candace Parker, former WNBA All-Star Renee Montgomery and host Lauren Jbara.
Unrivaled live stream: How to stream games
All Unrivaled basketball games can be live streamed on Max. Fans can also stream games on Sling.
Watch Unrivaled basketball games on Sling
Who is playing on Unrivaled opening night?
Game 1: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC
Mist BC roster: Breanna Stewart (captain), Jewell Loyd, Courtney Vandersloot, DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards.
Lunar Owls BC roster: Napheesa Collier (captain), Skylar Diggins-Smith, Courtney Williams, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink (Note: Brink is practicing with the team but will be unable to play due to injury).
Game 2: Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC
Vinyl BC roster: Arike Ogunbowale (captain), Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby.
Rose BC roster: Chelsea Gray (captain), Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens.
What is Unrivaled? New women’s basketball league explained
Unrivaled is the latest push to drive more attention towards women’s basketball, particularly during the WNBA offseason. The league, founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, will operate in a three-on-three format, with the 2025 season taking place in the Miami area.
Some of the biggest names in the WNBA were sorted among the 36 players and six teams that will compete in this first season, with play beginning on Friday, Jan. 17 and running through the league final on Monday, March 17.
According to a league press release, ‘Unrivaled is player-owned, offering participating players in its inaugural season equity opportunities for a vested interest in the league’s success – in addition to the highest salaries in professional women’s sports league history.’ — Jason Anderson
Basketball Hall of Famer in the house
Steve Nash, a two-time MVP and an eight-time NBA All-Star, was on hand to take in the debut of Unrivaled.
Is Caitlin Clark playing in the Unrivaled season?
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark would be an obvious inclusion to kickstart a new basketball league. The Indiana Fever guard took her shooting prowess to the next level and dominated to the tune of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game through her rookie season.
However, as was reported in November, she will not suit up for Unrivaled’s inaugural season. The 22-year-old is coming off a busy 2024 that saw the star take the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA women’s basketball championship against South Carolina. She then became the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, putting together a season that earned her Rookie of the Year honors.
Where will Unrivaled basketball games be played?
Unrivaled’s first season will take place just outside of Miami at a custom-built venue in Medley, Florida, assembled by the league and its production partner, Mediapro. The venue has a capacity of 850.
Unrivaled: Format, rules for women’s basketball league
Unlike FIBA or Olympic three-on-three basketball, Unrivaled will play on a full court, with baskets at each end. Owing to the lower number of players on the floor at any given time, the playing surface will be 70′-by-50′ (as compared to the 94′-by-50′ size used in the WNBA). Games will be played in four seven-minute quarters.
Each team will play 14 games, with the top four teams at the end of the regular season advancing to one-game semifinals. The winners of those games will move on to a one-game final set for Monday, March 17. — Jason Anderson
Unrivaled 2025 teams and rosters
Laces BC
Jackie Young
Tiffany Hayes
Kayla McBride
Kate Martin
Alyssa Thomas (capt.)
Stefanie Dolson
Coach: Andrew Wade
Lunar Owls BC
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Courtney Williams
Allisha Gray
Cameron Brink (note: Brink is practicing with the team but will be unable to play due to injury)
Napheesa Collier (capt.)
Shakira Austin
Coach: DJ Sackman
Mist BC
Jewell Loyd
Courtney Vandersloot
DiJonai Carrington
Rickea Jackson
Breanna Stewart (capt.)
Aaliyah Edwards
Coach: Phil Handy
Phantom BC
Sabrina Ionescu
Natasha Cloud
Marina Mabrey
Katie Lou Samuelson
Satou Sabally (capt.)
Brittney Griner
Coach: Adam Harrington
Rose BC
Chelsea Gray (capt.)
Brittney Sykes
Kahleah Copper
Lexie Hull
Angel Reese
Azurá Stevens
Coach: Nola Henry
Vinyl BC
Arike Ogunbowale (capt.)
Jordin Canada
Rhyne Howard
Rae Burrell
Aliyah Boston
Dearica Hamby
Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
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