The Unrivaled women's professional 3-on-3 basketball league made a spectacular debut in Philadelphia on Friday night, shattering attendance records and reigniting excitement for women's sports in a city with a rich basketball heritage. A crowd of 21,490 fans packed the arena, setting a new regular-season record for professional women's basketball, surpassing the previous mark of 20,711 set in the WNBA.
Historic Homecoming for Natasha Cloud and Philly Natives
For players like Natasha Cloud, a former WNBA champion now with the New York Liberty and Phantom BC in Unrivaled, the event was a poignant homecoming. Growing up in suburban Philadelphia, Cloud idolised Allen Iverson, and playing on the same court where he once dazzled was a surreal moment. "Man, like how crazy it is that I'm standing here about to play for the first time professionally in my home city," Cloud reflected, highlighting the emotional significance of women's basketball returning to Philadelphia after nearly three decades.
Star-Studded Night and On-Court Action
The atmosphere was electric, with celebrities such as Good Morning America host Robin Roberts, Sixers guard Kyle Lowry, and comedians Leslie Jones and Wanda Sykes in attendance. On the court, Kelsey Plum led the Phantom to a 71-68 victory over the Breeze with 22 points, while Marina Mabrey stole the show in the second game, scoring an Unrivaled-high 47 points to propel the Lunar Owls to an 85-75 win over the league champion Rose, featuring Philly native Kahleah Copper.
Copper, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, embraced her role as both tour guide and promoter, taking teammates to local spots like Dalessandro's Steaks and securing 64 tickets for the event. "I think the city is ready for women's professional sports," Copper said, expressing excitement about being part of the revival.
Philadelphia's Basketball Legacy and Women's Sports Revival
Philadelphia's basketball history has long been dominated by male stars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson. The last women's professional game in the city was in 1998 with the Philadelphia Rage of the defunct American Basketball League. Despite icons like Dawn Staley carrying the banner for women's basketball, the local scene has lacked a professional presence until now.
Unrivaled's successful debut is seen as a pivotal step toward establishing Philadelphia as a hub for women's basketball. Pep rallies and watch parties sprouted across the city, and ticket prices on secondary markets rivalled those of recent Sixers games. The event also aligns with plans for a new arena by 2030, intended to host a future WNBA team.
Growing Pains and Future Prospects
Despite the live success, Unrivaled faces challenges with televised viewership. In its second season, the league's average viewership on TNT and truTV has dropped 49% to 92,000, compared to 183,000 through a similar number of games last year. Primetime ratings on TNT are down 68% from pre-league programming. However, players like Cloud focus on the packed arena as evidence of growing demand. "How hot, booming, [in-]demand, that women's sports, women's basketball in general is, right now," she emphasised.
Co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled's tour stop in Philadelphia could serve as a proving ground for expanding the league's reach and revenue. Players such as Cameron Brink of the Breeze expressed enthusiasm for more touring, noting, "We saw that this is a city that wants to cheer on women's basketball." Brink herself made headlines by dunking in practice for the first time since recovering from a torn ACL.
Community Engagement and Broader Impact
Stars like Paige Bueckers of the Breeze, the 2021 AP Player of the Year, highlighted the importance of community events and fan interactions, particularly with young girls. The turnout demonstrated a hunger for professional women's basketball in Philadelphia. "To see the sold-out arena, to just see the love that they have for women's sports, it means a lot for the future too in terms of getting a WNBA team," Bueckers said.
Unrivaled CEO Alex Bazzell hinted at more touring dates ahead, stating, "We're going to continue to make the sports world proud by the product we put out." This historic night in Philadelphia not only broke records but also signalled a promising future for women's basketball, blending local pride with broader growth in the sport.
