Unrivaled Women’s 3-on-3 Basketball League Reaches $340 Million Valuation
The innovative women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, Unrivaled, has recently soared to a valuation of $340 million after securing a new round of investment from high-profile figures including tennis legend Serena Williams.
Prominent Backers Drive Accelerated Expansion
Serena Ventures, the investment firm led by Serena williams, took part in the Series B funding round spearheaded by Bessemer Venture Partners. Other notable investors included Warner Bros. Revelation and Alex Morgan’s trybe Ventures.Although individual contributions remain confidential, this capital injection represents a significant leap from last year’s $95 million valuation.
This rapid growth mirrors the increasing global enthusiasm for women’s sports. Market data reveals that investments in female athletic leagues have surged over 150% since 2020, fueled by expanding fan engagement and sponsorship opportunities.
Transforming Opportunities for Female Basketball Players
Established in 2023, Unrivaled provides professional women basketball players with competitive play during the WNBA offseason-a time when many previously sought overseas contracts to supplement their income. By offering industry-leading salaries combined with equity stakes-the highest average pay ever recorded in women’s pro sports-Unrivaled is redefining career trajectories for female athletes.
In comparison, WNBA teams currently do not offer player equity as part of compensation packages; ongoing collective bargaining discussions focus on salary enhancements among other issues. Meanwhile, franchise valuations within the WNBA have climbed impressively to an average near $260 million per team this year.
A Broad Spectrum of influential Champions
the league attracts investments from celebrated athletes across multiple disciplines: tennis icons Billie Jean King and Coco Gauff; NBA superstar Stephen Curry; Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps; alongside Serena Williams herself. This diverse roster underscores Unrivaled’s appeal beyond conventional basketball circles.
bessemer Venture Partners’ participation aligns with their track record supporting disruptive platforms like StubHub and Twitch streaming services. Caty Rea, Vice President at Bessemer, highlighted their interest in “category-defining companies led by visionary founders,” describing Unrivaled as a groundbreaking model set to shape future sports enterprises worldwide.
Expansion Strategies Ahead of Upcoming Season
Alex Bazzell, co-founder and president of Unrivaled, revealed plans to allocate new funding toward upgrading training facilities and enhancing player progress programs while intensifying marketing campaigns designed to grow viewership across television broadcasts and social media platforms.
“Our dedicated fanbase engages deeply across various channels,” said Bazzell. “The next phase involves substantially scaling our reach.”
An Exciting Look at Recent Court Highlights
The league continues delivering electrifying contests featuring emerging talents such as Angel Reese battling top competitors at venues like Wayfair arena in Florida-events that consistently attract larger crowds each season as public excitement around fast-paced women’s basketball formats intensifies nationwide.
