I’ve covered hundreds of pro basketball games. Unrivaled was unlike any other.

The new professional women’s 3-on-3 basketball league — co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart — is creating a spectacularly unique basketball environment.

MEDLEY, FLORIDA – On Monday night, I had the opportunity to attend my first-ever Unrivaled basketball games — back-to-back full-court 3-on-3 games that featured WNBA stars like Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, Allisha Gray and dozens of others.

It’s hard to pin down exactly what the Unrivaled feels like when you’re immersed in it. It’s not exactly a WNBA atmosphere — but it’s also very apparent that what you’re watching is not exhibition basketball.

It’s something far more monumental, far more consequential.

For those unfamiliar, Unrivaled is a new 3-on-3 professional women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart — and one that’s generated a ton of buzz in the lead-up to its launch. The league secured the participation of dozens of All-Stars — including Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, and Alyssa Thomas — and set out to provide athletes with every amenity they could think of, including around-the-clock access to personal trainers, the latest recovery technology, a child care center, and an on-site aesthetician for regular spa treatments.

The buzz continued to build in the lead-up to the league’s launch on Jan. 6.

In October, Unrivaled made headways after agreeing to an exclusive media rights deal with TNT Sports, where Monday night’s games were broadcast. Since then, they’ve announced dozens of partnerships with major companies, from Wayfair (which the arena is named after) to Icy Hot (its official recovery partner).

In many ways, Unrivaled is completely innovative and new — it offers all inaugural players equity and a higher average salary than they earn in the WNBA. And, perhaps most importantly, it affords players who don’t want to go overseas in the offseason the opportunity to stay home and focus on their personal development, rather than prioritizing the wins of an overseas professional club.

Stylistically, Unrivaled is putting out a product that’s never been seen professionally. The 3-on-3 games follow a different set of rules than traditional FIBA 3×3 basketball, and they’re played on a 70-foot full-court rather than half-court style. They also adhere to the Elam Ending; gameplay ends once a target score has been reached (the winning team’s score after the third quarter, plus 11 points).

I watched Unrivaled’s opening weekend on television, from my couch, and concluded that 1) the games themselves rocked and 2) the vibes in the arena were hard to gauge from my couch back in Boston.

On television, the arena looks fairly empty, almost evoking memories of the WNBA bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, online, I’d seen that the cheapest resale tickets were going for hundreds of dollars — this place was completely sold out.

“I feel like we’ve already kind of outgrown this,” Napheesa Collier told SB Nation in a sitdown interview at the Unrivaled facility.

Here are just a few things I took away from the Unrivaled in-person experience.

Setting the scene: an 850-seat arena in Medley, Florida

My first revelation from attending Unrivaled: I didn’t realize that games weren’t actually in Miami. Wayfair Arena, where games are played, is located in Medley, Florida, a town that is 30 minutes from downtown Miami without traffic — and nearly an hour away during rush hour.

Arike Ogunbowale, who was one of the WNBA’s first stars to commit, said that she actually enjoys living on the outskirts of the city — where there’s outdoor space and parks — but still within reach of the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami.

Getting inside Wayfair arena was a lot easier than accessing a typical WNBA or NBA arena — fans can bring backpacks inside, and given the arena’s 850-person capacity, there wasn’t a substantial line to get in the way there would be for most professional basketball games.

And, from the moment I walked in, it became abundantly clear that Unrivaled has prioritized the fan experience. Outside of the arena’s entrance is an outdoor “fanfest” section with a slew of carnival-style games like Hot Shot, as well as a spacious merchandise store that sells both generic Unrivaled merch and team-specific gear — but no player jerseys.

(Several fans I spoke to mentioned that was something they desperately wanted to see, though they nonetheless scoured the Unrivaled store for merchandise throughout the night).

A closer look at who attends Unrivaled games

The word “diverse” has been thrown around so much that it has almost lost its meaning. But, if there is ever a time to use it, it’s to describe Unrivaled’s crowd. The 850-person arena was inundated with people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds. What largely brought them together was a self-proclaimed appreciation for women’s basketball, and the momentous occasion that Unrivaled’s launch represented.

As far as the vibe inside? Something in between a party, your traditional sporting event, and a festival. There’s a bar just a few feet away from the court, and many fans opted to grab a mixed drink and watch the game with a buzz. But, while adults sipped on a slew of cocktails, the environment also felt family-friendly.

Most of the people I met were just general diehard women’s basketball fans who couldn’t quite believe they had the opportunity to see their favorite players in person.

In addition, a sizable chunk of those in attendance were the players’ friends and family. For example, Courtney Williams’ dad, Don, who rose to national prominence during the WNBA Finals, was locked into both of the night’s games, sporting his daughter’s Minnesota Lynx jersey.

Alyssa Thomas’s fiance, WNBA star DeWanna Bonner, also sat courtside. Players who weren’t playing in Monday’s games, such as Mist stars DiJonai Carrington and Aaliyah Edwards, were also in attendance. And, players who just finished playing — like the Vinyl’s Rae Burrell — quickly changed after her game to tune into the night’s second game as a spectator.

At Unrivaled, I met teenage girls who flew from cities around the U.S. to get a chance to watch their favorite players of all time play up close, and older women who said that what Unrivaled was doing — paying women’s athletes an average salary of more than $220,000, giving players equity, broadcasting games on TNT – gave them chills. I spoke with Miami couples who weren’t necessarily women’s basketball enthusiasts but were eager to check out the newest and hottest spot in town — and individual players’ superfans who hailed from Iowa, Chicago, South Carolina, and other top-tier basketball destinations.

Gameplay is even more fast-paced in person

I got tired just watching Monday night’s two match-ups. It’s pretty clear on television as well, but the league’s game speed is simply… unrivaled (no pun intended)… and requires players to be in tip-top shape.

“The games go by really fast, which is unique,” said Phantom head coach Adam Harrington. “If you’re doing really well, it goes by fast. If you’re not doing well, it goes by fast.”

Given the stylistic differences of Unrivaled, the “minutes” column on the box score doesn’t accurately reflect the physical toll that players are facing.

When Kayla McBride sat down for her Unrivaled postgame media availability, she was stunned to learn just how few minutes she logged in the Laces’ 71-64 victory over the Rose.

“18 minutes? That’s minuscule compared to how I feel,” she said to her head coach, longtime WNBA assistant Andrew Wade, an incredulous smile pasted across her face.

It was easy for McBride to joke around about her tired legs given how well she’s been playing; the 32-year-old WNBA veteran exploded for 31 points on 8-18 shooting on Monday night, a performance that was punctuated by a game-winning midrange jumper.

But there’s also truth to the sentiment she expressed — an Unrivaled minute is not the same as other pro basketball minutes.

Lindsay Elizondo, Unrivaled’s medical director, is still figuring out exactly what kind of physical toll gameplay will take.

“Ask me that question again in a month, I think we’re still kind of in our we’re still in our information-gathering phase with some of that stuff,” said Elizondo, who was previously a physical therapist for the Orlando Magic for nearly four years. “It is a faster pace. It is a lot of up-and-down. So you’re just gonna see a lot of stuff.”

There’s an All-Star weekend feel to Unrivaled’s off-court engagement

Before tip-off, players were dramatically introduced on a stage behind the scorekeeper. As their names were called, they faced the crowd and commanded the stage as smoke permeated the air around them.

It was a scene that evoked NBA All-Star weekend introductions of years past — and helped generate additional buzz in an already juiced up environment.

Throughout the night, a DJ was responsible for blasting a wide array of uptempo music, and fans got to enjoy multiple opportunities to vote for the songs they want to hear. Colombian singer Karol G won a fan vote on Monday night, and in turn, her hit song “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” inundated the arena.

On one hand, all the buzz in the building evoked excitement and gave fans the impression that they were somewhere spectacular — something the players themselves echoed.

Laces player Stefanie Dolson said the fun, loud environment makes it easy for players to feel in touch with fans, and motivated them to put on a show for them.

“You can hear everything the fans are saying, and we’re kind of talking to the fans who sit behind us,” Dolson said. “It feels like we’re all in this one little — not bubble — but just like a family.”

As a spectator who simply loves to watch basketball, I personally felt like the frills were not completely necessary — because the actual gameplay was pretty spectacular in and of itself. In my eyes, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier dominating, Tiffany Hayes going for 30, and WNBA rookies Angel Reese and Kate Martin showcasing their improvement in such an intimate environment was such a hit on its own that the constant music and clapping somewhat detracted from what took place on the court.

Fans were encouraged to stay loud and engaged throughout the game, thanks to a hype-up guy who circled the perimeter of the court the entire game, leading an array of claps and chants. That aspect felt a little bit forced to me — especially since some fans were clearly supporting one team over another (but were directed to clap regardless of who scored). And, while some fans were clearly into the coordinated chants and clapping patterns, several people I spoke with found it a little bit irritating.

Napheesa Collier told SB Nation that she’d like to see Unrivaled lean into “home” and “away” a little bit more in the future. That could help enhance the environment at Unrivaled so that there are more distinct “sides” rather than people being encouraged to consistently support all the players throughout the game.

Kate Martin is an unequivocal fan-favorite

Martin, who was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with the No. 18 pick in 2024, was clearly one of the most popular players at Unrivaled (I watched the Vinyl, Rose, Mist, and Laces all compete on Monday). Martin, who was recently selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, didn’t got much playing time this past season, but she’s benefitted from increased touches this season.

“I think Kate is thriving here,” Ogunbowale told SB Nation. “There’s a lot to her game that I personally didn’t know she had — and it’s getting more exposed here that she’s able to have the ball more.”

Whenever the guard scored, the crowd celebrated extra loud. When officiating whistles didn’t go her way, fans in the stands were irate. And, when I polled a bunch of attendees about what drew them to attend Monday’s game, “Kate Martin” was a popular answer.

So far this Unrivaled season, Martin is averaging 10 points and 5.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per night, and she’s benefited from the league’s fast pace and emphasis on switchability.

Overall, the Unrivaled experience felt momentous. The hoops were phenomenal. And, being in the arena, there was a palpable feeling that you were a part of something historic. The league’s current product likely isn’t the finished one — but it was nonetheless unrivaled.

This article is the first of a series of stories about 48 hours at Unrivaled — SB Nation will dive deeper into the future growth of the league, the facility’s groundbreaking amenities, an emphasis on player development and recovery, the league’s childcare center, and more.