MIAMI — The Challenge of Successful Sequels

Success in sequels is tricky; many simply don’t meet expectations.

Movies like Jaws 2, Cars 2, and Mockingjay from the Hunger Games series fell short, missing the excitement and engaging storylines that thrilled audiences in their originals.

Now, following a promising debut, Unrivaled faces its biggest test: crafting an exciting second year.

When it began last year, curiosity drew fans to the 3-on-3 basketball league featuring 36 top WNBA players. The fan fest outside Sephora Arena on January 20, 2025, was electric, almost like a concert.

Opening night was historic, with a sellout crowd of 870 attendees.

Players described the atmosphere as “emotional,” enjoying the intimacy of the venue. Co-founders Nafeesa Collier and Brianna Stewart were visibly proud of how their vision came to life.

The novelty of “Unrivaled” helped propel its first-year success. Yet, this season, the theme has shifted. With Project B, an ambitious 5-on-5 international league set to launch later this year, the stakes feel particularly high.

Unrivaled has indeed grown from its inaugural year.

This season, they’ve expanded to two teams and signed 54 WNBA players, along with enhancing the Miami campus to include more courts and a weight room.

They’ve also reintroduced away games, with two scheduled in Philadelphia for January 30.

These developments seem like promising indicators for the league’s progress.

However, the TV ratings for Monday’s season kickoff were underwhelming.

The two prime-time games averaged 175,000 viewers, with four games bringing down the average to just 107,000.

To put that in context, Unrivaled 2025 recorded an average of 313,000 viewers on its opening night, and during regular season games, the number was 208,000.

Though it’s still early in the season, Stewart emphasized the importance of these ratings for assessing the league’s success.

“We’re obviously aiming for consistent viewer numbers, regardless of the day we play, and we understand the other dynamics at play in the sports world,” Stewart noted. “Many people aren’t yet accustomed to watching women’s professional basketball, except for events like the EuroLeague, so viewership is vital.”

Unrivaled is distinctive in that it was created by players, for players. It operates uniquely, with the players forming the largest shareholder group and receiving 50% of the league’s revenue.

Last year, it was highlighted that they offered the highest salaries in U.S. women’s team sports.

The average salary for the first eight weeks of this season is $220,000, which is estimated to be 83% higher than the previous year’s WNBA average.

While Unrivaled states salaries have risen this season, they did not disclose specific details due to “confidentiality” policies regarding player contracts.

Players consistently express pride in Unrivaled and appreciate the support it provides.

The league emphasizes player development, an often neglected area since women’s games run year-round.

It offers players a venue to train and compete during the WNBA offseason, while also allowing rest periods.

Nonetheless, at its core, Unrivaled is a business, and building a dedicated fan base is crucial for its ongoing success.