Both Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier have accomplished many accolades so far. And yet, none of those may be as meaningful as their most recent one!

Collier is the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a five-time WNBA All-Star. Stewie, meanwhile, is a three-time WNBA champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and a two-time WNBA MVP.

Both WNBA stars have recently been named as Innovators of the Year by Sports Illustrated. That’s an honor to recognize “individuals or groups shaping the future of sports through performance, technology, or business.”

“This year represents meaningful change that will impact generations of basketball players and fans to come,” Stewart said. “I’m honored that Sports Illustrated is recognizing this work. It’s especially meaningful to share this moment with Napheesa.”

The duo launched Unrivaled, the first player-owned women’s basketball league, last January. Their vision was to create a new model where players have real ownership, real financial security, and real influence. More importantly, they wanted to prove that any league can be built around engagement and sustainability. But the journey wasn’t really easy. 

After all, the WNBA has existed since 1997. But Stewart and Collier leaned into innovation. They introduced a fast-paced 3-on-3 format, eliminated the need for players to go overseas during the offseason, and offered competitive salaries. And since they reshaped the norm, it worked.

“I’ve always believed that athletes have the power to shape the future of our sport,” Collier said. “Being recognized alongside my co-founder motivates me to keep building, keep advocating, and keep creating opportunities for the next generation.”

Now, the league will be starting its second season on 5th January with two new teams, the Breeze BC and the Hive BC. This means bringing in more players, a larger venue to host fans, and a new city to grow the game. And that’s not it. At least 75% of the league’s athletes are signed to multi-year contracts, a clear sign that Unrivaled isn’t a temporary experiment.

Even TNT Sports has finalized its broadcast team for Unrivaled’s second season, further solidifying its presence on the national stage. So, the honor is well earned, especially given the timing.

How does Unrivaled Help WNBA Players in Negotiations?

Back in 2011, the NBA entered a lockout. With no league games to play, stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant took to pro-am and streetball courts, keeping the game alive locally.

Now, the WNBA faces a similar growing labor tension with the possibility of a strike. But its players are in a very different position, all thanks to Stewart and Collier, as they’ve offered an alternative- a league that offers high-level competition, better pay, and stability.

More than that, Unrivaled has set a blueprint for how a league can operate while truly valuing its players, through higher salaries, ownership, and better revenue sharing.

As Collier told The Athletic in September, “From the beginning, Breanna and I set out to create a league founded on the belief that players deserve compensation and ownership that reflect their value.” That belief is now reality.

Are you excited for the second season? What is your opinion on the whole?

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das