Unrivaled reveals stunning semifinals attendance numbers
3 minute readPublished: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 3:41 am
Unrivaled Semifinals Draw Massive Crowd, Building on Record-Breaking Season
Unrivaled, the women's professional basketball league, continues to captivate audiences, drawing impressive crowds throughout its inaugural season. Following a record-setting attendance of 21,490 fans in Philadelphia in January, the league maintained its momentum with a sold-out semifinal game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event, held on Monday, saw 18,261 fans in attendance, demonstrating the league's growing popularity.
The semifinal matchups featured Breeze versus Mist and Vinyl versus Phantom. In the first game, Phantom emerged victorious over Vinyl with a score of 83-75. Kelsey Plum led Phantom with 31 points, supported by Kiki Iriafen's double-double performance. Dearica Hamby led Vinyl with 30 points. The second semifinal game, Breeze versus Mist, was ongoing at the time of this report.
Unrivaled has provided a platform for top women's basketball players, including Paige Bueckers, who has highlighted the league's role in preparing her for the WNBA season. Chelsea Gray also achieved victory in the 1v1 tournament. The championship game is scheduled for March 4 in Miami, Florida.
The league, founded in 2025 by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, has gained recognition for offering an alternative professional league for women's basketball players during the WNBA off-season. It has also been praised for its player compensation and benefits.
BNN's Perspective: The success of Unrivaled is a positive development for women's basketball. The league's ability to attract large crowds and provide opportunities for players is encouraging. While the long-term viability of the league remains to be seen, its initial success suggests a growing demand for women's professional basketball and a potential shift in the sports landscape.
Keywords: Unrivaled, women's basketball, semifinals, attendance, Barclays Center, Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Paige Bueckers, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, WNBA, professional league, sports, basketball