The 2024 WNBA shattered records across nearly every category. Traditionally, fans of women’s professional basketball would have to wait an entire year after the New York Liberty secured their first championship at the end of October. However, this time is different.
On Friday night, Unrivaled, the league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, made its debut to a sold-out crowd in primetime, thanks to partnerships with TNT in the U.S. and TSN+ in Canada. From the outset, the premiere fulfilled its promise, holding games in state-of-the-art facilities designed exclusively for the 36 competing athletes. With high-quality branding, a fan fest, and substantial engagement from major sponsors and partners, the atmosphere was electric. TNT also enhanced the broadcast with star power, featuring pre-, half-, and post-game shows with WNBA and TNT broadcasting luminary Candace Parker and Atlanta Dream owner Rene Montgomery.
The energy from the crowd during the first game was palpable, with 850 seats filled, as they erupted in applause when Stewart scored the inaugural basket in Unrivaled history for the Mist Basketball Club. After the games, Lunar Owls point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith likened the experience to competing in her Indiana state championship game, while Las Vegas Aces and Rose Basketball Club star Chelsea Gray remarked, “I liked the competitive fire. Everyone is in tune with it from the players to the fans.”
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anyways here is some of our boom boom room dialogue from the postgame show tonight😭😭😭 https://t.co/UqUCnC4CZg pic.twitter.com/KRkRZhE9zd
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) January 18, 2025
TNT’s investment was evident throughout the games, particularly in the analysis provided. Announcer Lisa Leslie’s signature catchphrases like “in her bag” and “boom, boom room” were met with humorous commentary and tracking by social media users. Despite Leslie’s limited phrasing, the women’s basketball community expressed excitement over the production, camera angles, and the overall play during the Friday night doubleheader, though minor adjustments are still needed to address some incorrect graphics and sound issues that hindered the announcing crews.
I love the concept of @Unrivaledwbb…it’s great see our pros hoopin on tv during the winter months…
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 18, 2025
Sideline reporter Allie LaForce enriched the broadcasts by interviewing players on the bench and engaging with investors and celebrities, including former USWNT player Alex Morgan and former NBA player and coach Steve Nash. However, the length of the interviews sometimes overshadowed gameplay, splitting the screen between interviews and on-court action, which could benefit from adjustments to maintain focus on the game.
The stage is set! Here are the rules! pic.twitter.com/u9XGZi8XiG
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) January 17, 2025
The new rules and format were straightforward, thanks to the Unrivaled social team’s efforts to clarify them extensively. Key features included a single shot for free throws, leading to a quicker pace, and a compressed court that sped up gameplay. The most exciting aspect was the “winning score” rule, where after three periods of seven minutes, the final period is untimed, racing to a predetermined points total. The opening game showcased this as rivals Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loy, along with friends and co-founders Collier and Stewart, went head-to-head. In a thrilling display, Diggins-Smith clinched a comeback victory with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the game 84-80.
The first game winner in UNRIVALED HISTORY!!
@SkyDigg4 pic.twitter.com/IfJHHu3mka
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) January 18, 2025
The second game seemed destined for a Vinyl Basketball Club victory, as they led by nine points at the end of the third quarter. The Rose made a valiant effort to close in on the lead but ultimately fell short, with Vinyl taking the opener 79-73. The fourth-quarter winning score format, paired with a commercial-free final quarter, kept the game’s intensity high without the interruptions typical in traditional formats—this was a significant win for the league and its new structure.
With one night of play completed, Unrivaled established itself as an exhilarating opportunity for WNBA players to stay stateside rather than go overseas, while simultaneously showcasing their talent. As we await social media engagement metrics, we’re hopeful the calculated efforts of players and their teams to connect with fans will pay off, not to mention the anticipated viewership numbers from the opening weekend. It’s clear that the league debuted to overwhelming praise and excitement from fans watching at home.
