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Curious about Unrivaled? Our guide to why you should watch the 3-on-3 league will help you get the most out of season two.
Good morning! ☕️
Hope you’re heading into a great weekend. There’s a lot of women’s basketball on the menu: Unrivaled runs tonight through Monday, and ESPN has a Sunday double-header with No. 22 North Carolina vs. Notre Dame at 1:00 PM ET, followed by No. 2 Texas vs. No. 12 LSU at 3:00 PM ET.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Toronto Tempo Sell Out Season Tickets 🇨🇦
The Toronto Tempo announced they’ve officially sold out their season ticket allotment. (Toronto Tempo)
WHY IT MATTERS: Expansion teams are always a bit of a mystery, so this is a huge early signal. As the WNBA’s first team in Canada, the Tempo carry extra weight, and this kind of demand is a great sign for the league’s continued international growth. It also mirrors what we saw from the Golden State Valkyries, who paired massive ticket demand with on-court wins, including a playoff appearance and an All-Star season from Kayla Thornton.
2. Mikayla Blakes Earns USA Basketball Honor 🏅
Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes has been named 2025 USA Basketball 5-on-5 Female Athlete of the Year. (USA Basketball)
WHY IT MATTERS: Blakes was flat-out dominant for USA Basketball last year, helping lead Team USA to an AmeriCup gold medal while averaging a team-high 14.0 points. Her run was capped by a 27-point outburst in the final (a tournament record).
And she hasn’t slowed down one bit. This college season, Blakes ranks third nationally at 25.2 points per game and has Vanderbilt off to a perfect 16–0 start.
3. WNBA CBA Deadline Arrives, Talks Continue 🧾
The current WNBA CBA officially expires today, but Breanna Stewart shared Thursday that a new agreement isn’t expected by the deadline. Negotiations between the league and the WNBA Players Association are set to continue. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: This doesn’t signal a work stoppage. Both sides will operate under the current agreement while talks continue, with revenue sharing still the biggest gap. Both sides feel good that a deal will get done and that there will be a 2026 season.
The real impact here is timing. A delayed agreement means a super condensed offseason, which leads to tighter free-agency windows and a rushed expansion draft for teams like Portland and Toronto, among other challenges.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Cards on the Table: Unrivaled announced a new trading card partnership with Panini.
Sabrina’s Role: Sabrina Ionescu won’t participate on the court this 2026 Unrivaled season as she recovers from a WNBA injury, but she’ll still be part of the league with on-air appearances on TNT.
Fresh Gear: Pumped for the new Unrivaled season? So are we! Fortunately, Home School Hoop Shop has unique new gear, made by and for fans!*
*When you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. If you do, THANK YOU!
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