MEDLEY, Fla. — More than 3 million viewers tuned into the opening weekend of Unrivaled women’s basketball on cable television, TNT Sports announced Thursday as the new league enters its second week.
The figure – from games broadcast on TNT and TruTV – is an early and positive sign the fast-paced, 3-on-3, full court games created by and featuring WNBA players is resonating with fans and viewers.
“Everybody who I’ve talked to that has watched any of the games say it’s so fun to watch. So, just give it a chance, watch it,” Kate Martin told USA TODAY Sports. Martin played with Caitlin Clark at Iowa, the Las Vegas Aces last year, and will play for WNBA expansion team Golden State Valkyries next season.
“I think it’s just super cool because it’s not just about the basketball, but it’s about what this whole league is doing for women’s sports in general. And so, it’s bigger than just basketball.”
Unrivaled – co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier – attracted fellow WNBA stars by promising higher salaries and team equity, while not needing to play overseas outside of the WNBA season.
While Clark and reigning WNBA MVP Aja Wilson aren’t in the league, other stars like Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese have embarked on the new venture that has created buzz among fans on social media.
The league has outfitted a production warehouse about seven miles from Miami International Airport into a basketball facility with a showcase arena where up to 850 fans can experience the action for a nine-week season.
“It definitely feels really intimate. Definitely something I think all the fans should come out and see,” WNBA star Brittney Griner said. “You’re a fan, you’re not a fan. I think you might become a fan, honestly, because it’s different from 5-on-5. The action is always happening. There’s always a big play going on one end of the floor.
“I think the fan interaction has been great. And all the social media stuff that they’re doing, too. There’s a lot of content going out every single day. And that’s good for us. … It’s just pushing every pillar in the way that we want.”
Unrivaled’s fourth-quarter format – where teams must reach the target winning score, 11 points more than the leading team’s score after the third quarter – also appears to have also resonated with fans.
Otherwise known as the Elam Ending, every Unrivaled game will end with a game-winning bucket.
The format was quickly highlighted in the league’s first game when Skyler Diggins-Smith scored a game-winning three-pointer, helping the Lunar Owls beat Stewart and the Mist.
The Lunar Owls closed out the fourth quarter on a 17-7 run, after trailing by as many as 10 points, in the only comeback win of the opening weekend.
Teams with leads in the five other games played were able to secure victories. There were three games decided by nine points or less, a 20-point win, and a 38-point blowout among the league’s first six games.
“We were up going into the fourth quarter, and tightened up and didn’t execute enough. That’s a different position to be in,” Courtney Vandersloot, a WNBA free agent who won her second title with the New York Liberty last season, said of the Mist loss.
“So, I think that was a learning thing for us. But I think everybody’s still trying to figure out what they’re good at and how they can win.”
Players and coaches said Thursday they’ve settled down from the hype and unknowns from the opening weekend, and gotten into the grind of the season, which ends March 17.
Unrivaled returns to action for its second week on Friday, Saturday and Monday with games shown on TNT, TruTV and Max.
“I thought opening weekend was incredible, very competitive. Players were definitely getting after, and it was great to have the fan engagement,” Stewart said.
“Just to see their relationships between being W fans but now coming here, it’s a hot ticket to have, and I think everybody really wants to come. I think that the fact this is a player-led league, everybody’s trying to uplift one another and make it so we’re getting better on and off the court.”