Imagine promising something and then failing to deliver on it. Yes, that’s what has caught the founders of the much-glamorized 3×3 women’s league off guard. WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the co-founders had some tall promises to fulfill, but they seem unaware of the happenings. Will fans and players still hold on to their patience or is it time up for the 2023 founded league? The question arises amid rising dissatisfaction.

Unrivaled had previously distinguished itself from traditional leagues. They promised revenue sharing with athletes, something that had been unheard of. Previously, the league’s president, Alex Bazzell, reinforced this commitment during Good Game With Sarah Spain podcast appearance. He said, “Before selling an Angel Reese jersey, she should 100% see the benefits of that”. But almost three weeks after the start of the inaugural season, fans are unable to buy a single jersey.

“Where are those jerseys?”, this question in the latest Unrivaled Basketball interview cuts to the heart of the growing fan frustration. Three weeks into its inaugural season, the league has not yet commercialized jerseys and made them available for purchase. This comes after their bold promises of athlete revenue sharing through the sales of merchandise.

Recently, Collier was confronted about the delay by ESPN host Sarah Spain in her podcast. She provided a straightforward response. “I don’t know; I need to ask him (Bazzell) because I’m wondering the same thing. People are asking me about jerseys. I think this happened so fast. Our deal with Under Armour and them getting our jerseys was such a quick turnaround. I’m sure it’s in the works… We want to get that out there and give the people what they want: the jerseys and get the athletes paid. I’m sure that they’re working overtime to make it happen.”

The delayed jersey sales serve as a threat to one of the Unrivaled’s main selling points: transparency and athlete empowerment. The year 2024 saw a surge in women’s sports merchandise sales; WNBA sales, in particular, rose by 500%. However, Unrivaled’s credibility is hanging in the balance as it is now failing to fulfill the revenue-sharing promise that initially attracted both players and fans alike.

One crucial factor in this delay is timing. Under Armour finalized its jersey deal in December 2024, giving the league limited production time. While Unrivaled’s Miami-based facility includes a retail space, no merchandise has been made available for purchase. While fans are keen to buy jerseys of their favorite players, they have taken to platforms like Reddit to find them.

But there seems to be some ray of hope. “I’m sure it’s in the works. We want to get that out there and get the people what they want, the jerseys, get the athletes paid. I’m sure that they’re working overtime to make it happen,” assured the 28-year-old Collier.

As the league gets closer to playoffs in March, its ability to live up to its promises can contribute to determining its short and long-term success.

Napheesa Collier’s dominance in Unrivaled

Despite the jersey controversy, Napheesa Collier’s on-court dominance has been impossible to ignore. She has emerged as the standout player in the very first 2 weeks, leading in scoring 28.5 pts, and 13 reb per game. Again, her performance was nothing short of spectacular, 37 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in a blowout win over Phantom. Now Lunar Owls are unbeaten under her leadership, with their last win coming in a narrow 75-73 win over Laces.

However, Napheesa Collier’s role in the league extends beyond her on-court brilliance. As a co-founder, she also helped attract players and sold them the idea of Unrivaled’s vision of player ownership and financial equity. Reflecting on those early days, she described them as “scary and fun,”. Since then Unrivaled has raised more than $35 million from top tier investors and signed up some major partnerships.

With Unrivaled now in its third week, Collier’s Lunar Owls will be under the microscope to see if they can continue their undefeated run. The league’s first season will last through March 17 with games played on primarily Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. 

Nevertheless, the unresolved jersey issue looms large. Will we see Unrivaled fulfill its promises before the season’s end, or will they be another piece of the missing pieces that will define the venture?