MIAMI (AP) — Unrivaled is ready for it’s a close up.
The new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier will debut Friday night.
The idea of a national championship was first mooted a few years ago and has now come to fruition.
“I can’t even put into words what it’s going to be like,” Stewart said. “But just the fact that there’s so much hype, so much content, so much talk about opening night and we’ve worked really hard to get to this point, on and off the field. I’m excited to ‘come in and present what we have done.
THE league features 36 of the WNBA’s best players, including the two co-founders, whose teams will face off on opening night. WNBA rookie sensation Angel Reese’s team competes in the second contest.
“I think I’ll understand everything in the presentations,” Collier said. “Once the ball goes up, it’s just the game.”
The matches will be played on a field it’s about 20 feet shorter than the WNBA court. There are three seven-minute quarters, then the fourth quarter will be played to a “winning score.” This total will be determined by adding 11 points to the team leading after three quarters.
Lisa Leslie, who will be one of the analysts for the show that will air on TNT and TruTV, was there at the start of the WNBA. Now she’s here for the launch of this league.
“It’s unparalleled and unparalleled for women to have a first-class experience in every way,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s different from my first season in the WNBA, where we shared the locker room with the Lakers, which is also an incredible experience. It’s just different and it’s just the time, like they have their own facilities, their own weight room and their own massage. It’s so first class.
Unparalleled money
As with WNBA games, players took part in a half-court shootout after their morning practices. Shakira Austin made it first and won $100 for her efforts. She came in last as the Lunar Owls’ youngest player and had the advantage of knowing the shorter court meant a closer shot.
“It’s a good start to the day,” Austin said.
Although the half court money is the same, players earn much more as the league progresses has the highest average salary for a professional women’s league.
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This story is part of the AP’s Inclusive Journalism Initiative with the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting.
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