Mist Basketball Club and Phantom BC are set to face off Wednesday for the championship that concludes the second season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. After this event, it remains uncertain when the leading names in women’s basketball will compete next, as the WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations approach a critical point.
Typically at this time, players would begin preparing for the WNBA season. However, the league announced that if an agreement on a new CBA is not reached before March 10, the start of the WNBA season might be postponed. This looming deadline raises concerns about potential disruptions for players and fans alike.
Unlikely Alternative from Unrivaled Despite Player Suggestions
If the WNBA faces a work stoppage or postponed games, the Unrivaled league, despite earlier hints from player Natasha Cloud about possibly mounting a substitute competition, is not expected to serve as a replacement. The league has demonstrated its ability to organize events quickly, exemplified by the sellout of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Monday for semifinal games, achieved just weeks after a sold-out event in Philadelphia.
The championship winner on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV) will receive a $600,000 prize to be divided among the 6-7 rostered players, underscoring the league’s growing stakes for participants.
Unrivaled Leadership Focused on Long-Term Growth, Not Temporary Fixes
Alex Bazzell, CEO of Unrivaled, emphasized before Monday’s semifinal games that creating short-term pop-up tournaments would detract from the league’s strategic development. He noted that a new CBA could materialize at any time, potentially removing the need for any alternative leagues or events.
We get asked a lot by players, naturally,
Bazzell said.
But we don’t focus any of our time on it.
Players and Union Leaders Amid Negotiations and Growing Frustration
During the media availability before the semifinals, Phantom guard and WNBPA first vice-president Kelsey Plum, as well as Mist forward and WNBPA vice-president Breanna Stewart, addressed the ongoing labor uncertainty. Both players underscored the urgent importance of reaching a deal.
The biggest priority right now is to come to an agreement,
Stewart said.
Both sides need to see the wins that we do have, and then we really have to kind of collab on this thing.
Internal discussions on the CBA were scheduled for Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s final. Reports indicate that Plum and Stewart recently sent a detailed three-page letter to union executive director Terri Jackson, expressing serious concerns about how the players’ association has managed the talks.
Players’ Upcoming Commitments Amid Contract Uncertainty
Following the Unrivaled championship, Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart will prepare for the USA Basketball training camp ahead of the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico starting next week. Stewart plans to join EuroLeague’s Fenerbahce Opet for a brief stint in April. While the official WNBA training camp is slated for April 19, the actual timeline remains uncertain given the stalled negotiations.
WNBA Proposals and Players’ Demands Remain Far Apart
The latest proposal from the WNBA, sent to union leaders this past Sunday, includes increased rookie salaries that would allow rising stars—such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers—to earn maximum pay earlier in their careers. The salary cap is projected to jump to $5.75 million in 2026, a 280% increase over last year’s roughly $1.5 million, with further growth anticipated.
Despite these proposals, the players’ union is advocating for significantly more compensation—running into hundreds of millions of dollars more over the entirety of the multiyear deal. Although players authorized a strike vote in December, Plum and Stewart highlighted the potential negative consequences of strike action during recent interviews.
Both sides aren’t moving,
Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, said Monday.
We need to continue to have these conversations, continue to actually have change implemented for us to move on our stance.
Unrivaled Sees Viewership Growth Despite Early Season Challenges
While television ratings declined at the outset of the 2026 season—partly due to scheduling clashes with college football and NFL playoffs—Unrivaled executives reported steady week-over-week viewership growth as the season progressed. TNT Sports EVP and chief content officer Craig Barry attributed improved ratings to the games being held in larger, sold-out venues, which enhanced the at-home broadcast experience.
Unrivaled has also attracted a substantial proportion of female viewers relative to other TNT channels. This Wednesday’s final will air on TNT following the U.S.-Canada women’s soccer match from Miami’s Sephora Arena, offering visibility across a broad sports audience.
(Unrivaled) has proven time and time again that it drives a large, bespoke audience,
Barry said.
It’s a highly sustainable product.
League Growth and Future Plans for Unrivaled
Commissioner Micky Lawler revealed that Unrivaled generated roughly $45 million in revenue this year—up 67% from its inaugural season—as it expanded its touring format. The league intends to visit additional locations next season and is considering increasing capacity at its Miami home base.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty around the WNBA collective bargaining agreement, Bazzell expressed a desire for resolution sooner rather than later, noting the toll taken by repeated inquiries about a potential work stoppage.
Hopefully, there’s a CBA signed,
he said,
so I can stop getting asked this question.
Tasha Cloud sits down with the Be Great Academy Podcast to address how players could navigate a potential WNBA lockout.
“We own the space we play in. If we wanted to stay here year-round as Unrivaled players with equity in this league, we can stay, train, play, and put on… pic.twitter.com/yaFyjyg3cK
— haus hoops | wbb (@haushoops) January 16, 2026
