As the inaugural season of Unrivaled concludes with its championship match, co-founder Breanna Stewart reflects on the league’s most significant impact, which goes beyond mere highlight reels and statistics. For Stewart, the true essence of the league is in providing WNBA players, particularly the younger athletes, the chance to enhance their skills during the off-season.
“We want you to see how hard we’re going on the court, but the big purpose of this is player development and getting better,” Stewart stated, according to Alanis Thames of the Associated Press. “Before Unrivaled occurred, the routine would involve playing in the WNBA and then heading overseas. There wasn’t really any time to work on your game or reflect on what went right or wrong from one season to the next.”
This 3-on-3 off-season league, created by Stewart and Napheesa Collier, serves as a domestic option for WNBA players who traditionally play overseas. Additionally, it provides structured training sessions and access to seasoned coaches such as Teresa Weatherspoon and Phil Handy.
“For me, witnessing (young players) grow in confidence, adeptly accepting feedback and incorporating it — whether it comes from veterans or coaches — is extremely vital,” Stewart noted.
WNBA players commend Unrivaled for keeping them active during the off-season
“For me, it’s just been about being able to not only continue to create an open space, but still being able to make everybody better in such a short game,” Howard explained. “I think that’s really been key to my success. And then also just the consistency that I’ve been trying to build upon.”
Angel Reese, who was recently honored as Unrivaled’s Defensive Player of the Year, utilized the league to develop her offensive capabilities prior to a hand injury that kept her out of the playoffs. Washington’s Aaliyah Edwards remarked that competing against talents like Stewart and Jewell Loyd significantly enhanced her confidence and helped her define her identity as a versatile scorer.
Monday’s championship game between Vinyl and Rose marked the conclusion of the league’s eight-week season. Although the outcomes are important, Stewart and other players believe the real achievement of Unrivaled lies in its ability to prepare them for the summer ahead — both physically and mentally.
Image Source: Breanna Stewart @ Instagram
