Unrivaled adding 2 teams, 18 players for next season

Unrivaled, the professional 3×3 basketball league for women, is adding two teams and 18 players to the league in 2026.

The league announced Wednesday the addition of the Hive Basketball Club and Breeze Basketball Club, which will start play in January and bring the league to eight teams. Each team will have six players on the roster.

Six more players will be on a development squad, allowing them to practice and fill in when teams need an injury replacement.

The league began play in 2025 and offered what it says is the highest average salary in professional women's sports history and provides equity to players.

The additional teams mean a fourth night of games during the week will be added, with no clubs playing on back-to-back nights.

Expansion was set to come after the third year, but the growing league determined there was no reason to wait.

"Expanding a year earlier than planned is a testament to the strong business model we've built and the potential Unrivaled has for long-term success," said Luke Cooper, Unrivaled's president of basketball. "We outperformed every goal we set for the league in year one, and with the incredible talent we have returning paired with the influx of new stars, it was a no brainer to add two more clubs this season."

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers is set to join Unrivaled in the new season, already signed to a three-year deal.

After a new round of funding, Unrivaled is valued at $340 million, the league said Monday.

--Field Level Media