The implementation of the “Unrivaled 3×3” league is almost complete. For “3×3” basketball and the development of high-level women’s basketball on American soil, this is excellent news. For European women's basketball, which used to bring in some of the best WNBA players during the offseason, it's more problematic.
One more step was taken yesterday with the signing of Sabrina Ionescu as the 36th and last player hired for this first “season”. Reigning WNBA champion, Olympic champion, the New York Liberty shooter was first expected to receive the green light medically after undergoing surgery earlier this month to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in her right thumb.
This is another big blow for “Unrivaled”, created at the initiative of the players Napheesa Collier And Breanna Stewartwhich notably succeeded in attracting big names thanks to its financial windfall. The payroll of the 36 players thus amounts to 8 million dollars. This was the main mission of the league, to encourage the best players to stay on the American continent rather than joining Europe.
According to ESPNthe contract signed by Sabrina Ionescu would also be the highest in terms of salary. Also note that the 36 players involved include the league's capital in equal parts.
Sabrina Ionescu joins the Phantom BC team and will play alongside Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, Natasha Cloud and Satou Sabally, whom she worked with at Oregon before joining the WNBA. All the teams and players as well as the calendar can be found on the official website of the Unrivaled league.
