MIAMI / NEW YORK / LOS ANGELES (February 27, 2025)– Unrivaled, the player-owned professional women’s basketball league, has teamed up with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and OneTeam Partners in a partnership that expands commercial opportunities through both group licensing and sponsorship. This collaboration not only strengthens Unrivaled’s ability to generate revenue but also ensures all WNBA players directly benefit as the league grows.
Through this strategic partnership:
- The WNBPA will grant group player rights to Unrivaled in support of the league’s long-term sponsorship and licensing business.
- Unrivaled will compensate the WNBPA, recognizing and reinforcing the WNBPA rights and collective value in the business of women’s basketball.
- OneTeam will serve as Unrivaled’s exclusive licensing agency in the trading card and memorabilia categories, and its non-exclusive agency across other categories, driving licensing opportunities and securing key sponsorships.
- The partnership launches with a major licensing deal with The Realest—the next-generation authentication standard for sports and entertainment memorabilia—specifically for game-used items.
Micky Lawler, Commissioner of Unrivaled, stated: “Partnering with the WNBPA and OneTeam is a game-changing opportunity that greatly benefits our extraordinary fans and players. Working hand-in-hand will allow us to continue to build on the tremendous support we have experienced in Unrivaled’s inaugural season and also on the impressive upward trajectory of women’s basketball. We are always stronger together; and, creating an environment to super-serve our fans is naturally positive for the athletes and for the sport overall.”
Terri Carmichael Jackson, Executive Director of the WNBPA, added: “This is the type of partnership that reflects what’s possible when players have ownership in the game. Unrivaled is innovating what a professional women’s basketball league can be, and by working together with OneTeam, we are ensuring that WNBA players’ rights are part of that vision. It’s about equity, opportunity, and long-term success for our players.”
As the exclusive sponsorship and licensing partner of the WNBPA, OneTeam spearheaded this partnership, aligning Unrivaled with key licensing and sponsorship categories that will elevate the league and its players in the marketplace.
Frank Arthofer, President of OneTeam, commented: “Women’s sports are on an undeniable growth trajectory, and we are proud to help drive that momentum as the largest partner of women athletes’ IP worldwide. At OneTeam, we have long championed collective rights as a powerful tool to create real value for athletes. We are excited to support Unrivaled in reaching its full potential while ensuring players directly benefit from its success.”
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About Unrivaled
Unrivaled is a professional women’s basketball league innovating the women’s professional sports landscape with a groundbreaking model centered on investing in its athletes. Co-Founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled is player-owned, providing participating players equity opportunities for a vested interest in the league’s success. Launched in January 2025, Unrivaled features the current top women’s basketball stars in the world across six clubs for a 3-on-3, compressed full court style of play. To learn more, visit unrivaled.basketball or contact info@unrivaled.com.
About the WNBPA
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association is the union for current women’s professional basketball players in the WNBA. The WNBPA is the first labor union for professional women athletes. It was created in 1998 to protect the rights of players and assist them in achieving their full potential on and off the court. The WNBPA handles the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, filing grievances on their behalf, and counseling players on benefits and post-WNBA career opportunities. The WNBPA also serves as a resource for current players, while they are competing internationally during the offseason.
About OneTeam Partners
OneTeam is a global leader in sports licensing, marketing, sponsorship, and media, specializing in commercializing group licensing rights for professional athletes. Established in 2019, OneTeam is a joint venture between the NFLPA, MLBPA, WNBPA, MLSPA, USWNTPA, and NWSLPA, with backing from HPS, General Atlantic, and Morgan Stanley Tactical. OneTeam represents the exclusive group rights for thousands of professional and collegiate athletes worldwide.