The women’s basketball landscape is transforming before our eyes. With Paige Bueckers signing a lucrative three-year deal with Unrivaled that exceeds her projected WNBA rookie contract, players are finally seeing financial opportunities that match their talent and marketability.
Women’s basketball pioneers are creating pathways for the next generation. In its first year, Unrivaled generated an impressive $27 million in revenue, significantly outperforming initial projections of $12-13 million and establishing itself as a game-changing option for players seeking competitive compensation without leaving home.
The Push for Higher WNBA Salaries Following Unrivaled’s Success
ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe expressed profound satisfaction about the financial opportunities emerging for women basketball players.
“I’m proud of Unrivaled. Nefisha Collier and Stewie need to be commended for coming up with this idea, and investors, I want to commend you guys for investing in them and believing in these women that they have a product that people want to see.”
The stark salary differences highlighted by Bueckers’ situation are illuminating. While the highest-paid WNBA player reportedly makes around $249,000 annually, Unrivaled’s average player salary sits at approximately $200,000 for a 10-week season, creating competitive compensation options previously unavailable domestically.
Bueckers’ groundbreaking deal includes not just player compensation but equity ownership in the league itself, a move that demonstrates her business acumen beyond the court. Last year, she signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled that gave her equity in the league while completing her college career at UConn.
The innovative 3-on-3 league, founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in 2023, launched its inaugural season in January 2025 in Miami.
With six teams competing under a unique format that includes an “Elam Ending” scoring system, Unrivaled created a domestic alternative to overseas play during the WNBA offseason.
Sharpe further emphasized how these developments could influence the WNBA’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“Hopefully, when the CBA is all said and done—hey, now all of a sudden it’s 250, you know, the average, maybe in the W, is 250, and now you say now they making half a million dollars. And the women like, ‘Okay, let us cook, let us cook.'”
The panel’s discussion represented a significant shift in mainstream sports coverage. As one commentator noted, “I’m sorry I’m having a spiritual experience right now because we’re finally speaking the same language when it comes to women’s basketball, and you, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe usually have to give myself a big old pep talk to pull up here.”
Only 18 WNBA players have topped $1 million in career on-court earnings, according to the discussion, highlighting the financial constraints that have historically plagued women’s basketball.
With Unrivaled’s success, players now have options beyond traditional overseas opportunities to supplement their WNBA incomes.
The financial revolution in women’s basketball continues gathering momentum, with Bueckers exemplifying the new business acumen among players.
By investing in Unrivaled before joining as a player, she demonstrates how athletes can leverage their platform beyond traditional salary structures, creating wealth while simultaneously building the leagues that employ them.
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