Unrivaled, a professional women's 3-on-3 basketball league, has completed a Series C funding round that values the company at $650 million [1].
The funding marks a significant shift in the economics of women's professional sports by granting athletes direct equity in the league's growth. This model aims to expand the reach of the sport while ensuring players benefit from the long-term appreciation of the brand.
The league raised more than $100 million during this latest round [1]. This capital influx follows a Series B round that closed in September of the previous year [5]. The investment group includes high-profile figures such as Carmelo Anthony, Ashton Kutcher, and Alex Morgan [3].
A central feature of the league's structure is its ownership model. Players currently own roughly 30% of the company [2]. By integrating athletes as owners, Unrivaled intends to drive growth through a shared incentive system, a departure from traditional professional sports structures where ownership is typically separated from the playing roster.
The league currently operates out of an arena in Florida [4]. However, the organization is already planning for future growth and intends to relocate in 2028 [4].
This funding round establishes Unrivaled as a major financial player in the women's sports landscape. The scale of the Series C investment suggests strong investor confidence in the 3-on-3 format and the player-ownership strategy. The league continues to build its infrastructure to support an expanding professional pipeline for women athletes.
“Unrivaled has completed a Series C funding round that values the company at $650 million.”
The valuation of Unrivaled reflects a growing trend of 'athlete-owners' in professional sports, moving away from the traditional employer-employee relationship. By giving players a 30% stake, the league aligns the financial interests of the talent with the success of the business, potentially creating a more sustainable and scalable model for women's sports leagues that have historically struggled for venture capital.
