Why the Sports World Has Its Eyes on Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart

For years the sports ecosystem had a blueprint for success. But when applied to women’s sports, it didn’t always end up with the same results. The assumption became that women’s sports (aka - women) were the issue. But like a business coach of mine once said, sometimes you have to burn down the house to build the castle - blueprints and all.

And that’s exactly what Unrivaled Co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart have done. And why they’ve been named to the 2025 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. (https://lnkd.in/e9hqPXkk)

As the Cailtin Clark NCAA wave swelled right into the WNBA, these two weren’t just riding it, they were churning up new waters architecting a unique 3 on 3 pro women’s basketball league aptly named, “Unrivaled”.

Their new league offers pro players a real alternative to offseason paid play that doesn’t take them out of the country. But it isn’t merely a proximity play. Or an offseason training ground. This duo means business. Big business. With their mission to elevate the entire ecosystem, letting every single player share in the stake of the league’s success.

Success is putting it mildly. In its inaugural year Unrivaled:

• had a $35 million cap raise 

• generated over $27 million in revenue. 

• signed #1 WNBA draft pick, Paige Bueckers, to a contract that easily surpasses her rookie WNBA earnings.

As new leagues and structures pop up across the women’s sports landscape, the tide is turning. It’s not just that the blueprint has been shredded and women’s sports are building on their own terms, it’s that the world is watching. And breaking with constructs of tradition. 

Just look to the next generation - the fastest growing high school boy’s sport? Volleyball.

To see the lastest women's sports unfold and see what to watch next, check out SportShepherd.com.

-Pam Kim, Founder, Sport Shepherd