Unrivaled Is Back 📣

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

Unrivaled’s sophomore 3-on-3 season officially begins today, with more players, new teams, and a full slate of fast-paced action. (Sports Illustrated)

👉 Here’s a quick breakdown about how Unrivaled works (and why it’s worth watching)

WHY IT MATTERS: Unrivaled proved last season there’s real demand for its high-energy, player-driven alternative league. Year 2 builds on that momentum with two expansion teams and an influx of young talent and rookies, such as Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Dominique Malonga. In this fast-paced, full-court 3-on-3 format, there is no where to hide.

Not all the Unrivaled news is good. Napheesa Collier announced late last week that she will undergo surgery on both ankles and will miss the 2026 Unrivaled season, with an estimated recovery timeline of 4–6 months. Temi Fagbenle will replace her on the Lunar Owls roster. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: Collier’s absence is significant for a couple of reasons: she’s one of the game’s elite players and a co-founder of Unrivaled. Her recovery window may even overlap with the early part of the 2026 WNBA season, making her health something to monitor beyond this league. Her priority here is clear: protecting her long-term availability for the WNBA, even if it reshapes her league’s competitive balance this season.

With college conference play now in full swing, early-season records are already taking hits. After a wave of upsets since the holiday break, only four undefeated teams remain: Texas, Texas Tech, UConn, and Vanderbilt. (Fox Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: This is the stretch where the best of the best really start to separate themselves. Upsets like Washington over Michigan, Kentucky over LSU, and Baylor taking down Iowa State are reshaping rankings and expectations fast.